Vatican concerned over Israeli decision to establish greater Jerusalem

Pope John Paul II expressed great concern over the decision taken by the Israeli government to enhance Jewish presence in Jerusalem through setting up greater Jerusalem.

The papal nuncio to Israel, Andrea Montezemolo, who was the chief negotiator in establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican called the plan "a very dangerous act"

The papal nuncio was quoted by France International radio as saying that at a time in which Israel stresses its desire for peace, it behaves in a way that increases conflict.

In Doha, Qatar said it considered the decision of the Israeli government to establish the municipality of greater Jerusalem as a "grave threat" to Middle East peace and called upon the international community to intervene.

Qatar News Agency said the Qatari Cabinet "expressed condemnation and denunciation over expanding the boundaries of Jerusalem and considered it as a violation to the rules of the international decision and international legitimacy resolutions as well as a grave threat to the Middle East peace process."

It called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards conditions resulting from the Israeli expansionist policy. It stressed Qatar's unswerving stances towards Jerusalem as an integral part of the occupied Arab territories as well as its categorical rejection of changing the demographic features and its legal framework, known before June 4, 1967.