Jerusalem's mayor said Tuesday that any partition of the city as part of a future peace agreement will not work, insisting only a united city could function and thrive.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Nir Barkat said his administration has treated the city's Arab residents honestly and equally.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators recently resumed peace negotiations after a five-year lull. The Palestinians demand the eastern sector of the city as their future capital and consider any Israeli construction there illegal settlements that hinder the prospect of peace.
Barkat said thoughts of dividing the city should be off the table.
"It will never function, it will never work. It is a bad deal," the former high-tech entrepreneur told AP. "Doing a bad deal is worse than no deal."
Israel captured east Jerusalem, home to key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the area in a move that has not been recognized internationally. The combined population of east and west — 800,000 — makes Jerusalem Israel's largest city.
Source: yahoonews
