JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednes­day he was “not impressed” by Muslim leaders’ statements on Jerusalem after they urged the world to recognise the city’s eastern sector as the capital of Palestine.

“We are not impressed by all these statements,” Netanyahu said in a speech, saying he believed many countries would follow US President Donald Trump’s lead and recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“The Palestinians would do better by recognising reality and acting in favour of peace and not extremism,” Netanyahu said.

“They should recognise another fact concerning Jerusalem: It is not only the capital of Israel, but we also maintain respect in Jerusalem for the freedom of worship for all religions, and we are the ones in the Middle East who do this like no one else.”

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2017