MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith is likely to address the issues surrounding the Donald Trump Administration’s official recognition of the city of Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel when she returns to the Senate this week.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator Ruel Reid made the indication when he responded to a query from Opposition Senator K D Knight, as to whether the US recognition would affect Jamaica’s position on the matter.

On December 6, US President Donald Trump’s Administration officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Trump stated that the US State Department would initiate the process of building a new US embassy in Jerusalem.

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the city as their political capital and as a sacred religious site. Israel currently controls the entire city and any peace deal would need to address that issue.

Jamaica is expected to support the position of most member states of the United Nations which suggests allowing western Jerusalem to remain as Israel’s capital, and eastern Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state.

— Balford Henry