Israel urged to share city of Jerusalem

Washington - In a sign of increasing desperation in the White House to forge a Middle East peace deal before President Bill Clinton…

Washington - In a sign of increasing desperation in the White House to forge a Middle East peace deal before President Bill Clinton leaves office, the US ambassador to Israel yesterday urged Israel to share Jerusalem with the Palestinians.

Mr Martin Indyk's remarks marked a sharp departure from Washington orthodoxy in recent years, which has been to make no judgment on the future of the holy city.

It appeared to represent an attempt to support the Israeli prime minister, Mr Ehud Barak, who is under fire from right-wingers over his readiness to discuss shared sovereignty at the Camp David talks in July. Those talks broke down over the fate of Jerusalem.

However, the gambit could have a political price in the US, where Jewish voters have traditionally punished any attempt to put pressure on Israel to split the city. In particular, it could cost Hillary Clinton votes in the New York Senate race, unless she radically distances herself from Mr Indyk's statement.