Jerusalem, 29 December 1996
FOREIGN MINISTRY CLARIFICATION ON KING HUSSEIN PROPOSAL FOR JERUSALEM
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
King Hussein of Jordan has in recent conversations with Israeli personalities raised the suggestion of opening an interfaith dialogue on the future of Jerusalem as a religious center. In his proposal, there is no mention of Jerusalem as a capital in any context, and the concept of "Jerusalem as the capital of the three religions" was not raised at all. King Hussein's intention was to create an informal and unofficial framework in which intellectuals and clerics could maintain an interfaith dialogue in a pleasant atmosphere.
The Foreign Ministry has received no letter on this subject, and in any case has not formulated an answer. The following are a transcript of remarks made by Foreign Minister David Levy this morning (Sunday), 29.12.96, in an interview with Dalia Yairi on Israel Radio:
Dalia Yairi: "You haven't received any letter recently in which this proposal is reiterated?"
Foreign Minister Levy: "No, no, not at all. (...). Jerusalem is very important to the three religions. We recognize this fact, and therefore, all Israeli governments certainly this one have maintained freedom of worship and closely guarded the holy places. The whole idea (of King Hussein) is that religious leaders should meet and have a measure of dialogue about the status of Jerusalem and the holy places. This is not a political statement."