Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Austrian Minister Nixes Israel Visit Over East Jerusalem Meeting With Israeli Counterpart
Error: Contact form not found.
by JNS.org
Austrian Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner. Photo: Wikipedia.
JNS.org – Austrian Science, Research and Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner canceled a planned visit to Israel after his host — Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis — insisted on meeting him in his eastern Jerusalem office. The visit was supposed to culminate with the two countries signing scientific cooperation agreements.
Mitterlehner was scheduled to arrive in Israel next week, but decided to cancel the trip after Akunis said the officials’ meetings would have to take place at the science and technology ministry, located in eastern Jerusalem, just north of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. It is part of a large complex that houses several government agencies. While Jerusalem was united following the 1967 Six-Day War, Austria and most other countries do not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the capital’s east. Mitterlehner suggested the meeting be held at the Knesset instead, or even in Tel Aviv, but Akunis refused.
“With all due respect to the Austrian minister, Jerusalem has been our capital for the past 3,000 years; holding a meeting there trumps any other option,” Akunis said Thursday. “The government complex in east Jerusalem is part and parcel of Jerusalem; the Jerusalem Law says as much. Had I agreed to his request I might as well have agreed to the division of the city—which is never going to happen. We are not going to divide Jerusalem, just like the Austrians will never divide Vienna.”
