Labour’s Emily Thornberry says Jerusalem should be run by international body

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said she believes the city of Jerusalem should be run by an international body. 

“Jerusalem should be an international capital of the entire world and it should be something that is run by an international body,” she said on Tuesday evening. 

Speaking to LBC’s Iain Dale, she discussed President Donald Trump and his three-day visit to the UK in June. 

“Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was wrong,” she said, “and undermines international convention.”

But while she cited Palestinian claims to “part of Jerusalem for their state when it is eventually recognised,” she did not acknowledge Israeli claims to the city.

When asked whether she supports a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, she replied: “If it’s Israel’s turn then it should be in Israel.

“I’m glad that it isn’t in Jerusalem. It’s much better that it’s in Tel Aviv,” she said.

When pressed further, she cited the Labour position, adding: “I will speak out when this dreadful right-wing Israeli government behaves in the way that it does.

“But that doesn’t mean that we don’t believe that shouldn’t be a state of Israel with Tel Aviv as its capital. And Tel Aviv therefore having the Eurovision Song Contest.”

A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “It is absurd for Emily Thornberry to speak about Palestinian claims on the city of Jerusalem without even acknowledging Israel’s.

“We would expect her to clarify her inconsistencies and correct her one-sided view of this issue.”

Labour MP Dame Louise Ellman, LFI vice-chair, said: “I am deeply disturbed to see Emily Thornberry apparently advocating that Tel-Aviv should be Israel’s capital and that Jerusalem should be ruled by an international body.

“It is both British foreign policy and Labour Party policy that sovereignty over Jerusalem should be shared by Israelis and Palestinians following direct negotiations by both peoples to secure a two-state state solution to this tragic conflict.

“By mentioning only the Palestinian links to Jerusalem, the Jewish people’s current, historic and religious connection to the city is denied. This is totally unacceptable. I have written to Emily Thornberry asking for urgent clarification of her reported comment.”

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.