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Tuesday 12 december 2017
EU rebuffs idea of recognizing Jerusalem as Netanyahu visits

By LORNE COOK tion when it comes to the
Associated Press negotiations in the Middle
BRUSSELS (AP) — Israeli East,” she said.
Prime Minister Benjamin As far as EU member coun-
Netanyahu urged the Eu- tries relocating their em-
ropean Union on Monday bassies in Israel, Mogherini
to back a new U.S. peace was quick to disabuse Ne-
initiative in the Middle East, tanyahu of the idea.
after President Donald “He can keep his expec-
Trump’s unilateral decision tations for others, because
to recognize Jerusalem as from the European Union
Israel’s capital met with member states’ side, this
widespread condemna- move will not come,” she
tion and triggered clashes said.
in the Palestinian territories. Nevertheless, Mogherini
Netanyahu, making the and other ministers were
first official visit by an Israeli impatient to hear details of
premier to the EU’s Brussels any U.S. peace initiative in
headquarters in 22 years, the pipeline. The EU’s top
told reporters that recog- diplomat said the time-
nizing Jerusalem merely frame for any new plan and
stated the reality on the who might be involved do
ground. He said he expect- not appear to have been
ed many European coun- European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin worked out.
tries to follow Trump’s lead. Netanyahu address a media conference at the EU Council building in Brussels on Monday, Dec. “Both the horizon and the
But EU foreign policy chief 11, 2017. framework appear still to
Federica Mogherini, who (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) be determined,” Mogherini
chaired talks between Ne- Israel’s capital, “what Presi- makes peace possible,” he salem as Israel’s capital.” said.
tanyahu and EU foreign dent Trump has done is put said. Reacting to Netanyahu’s French Foreign Minister
ministers, said no European facts squarely on the table. The Israeli leader added remarks, Mogherini said EU Jean-Yves Le Drian said:
leaders plan to adopt the Peace is based on reality.” that he believed most Euro- ministers were concerned “They’ve announced to us
U.S. president’s position. “Jerusalem is Israel’s capi- pean countries would now about Trump’s move. some kind of American ini-
Netanyahu insisted that, in tal, no one can deny it. It “move their embassies to “We do not wish to see a tiative. We’ve been waiting
recognizing Jerusalem as doesn’t obviate peace, it Jerusalem, recognize Jeru- discredited U.S. administra- for several months.q
American diplomat: US looks to counter Iran in post-war Iraq

By SUSANNAH GEORGE sands of mostly Shiite fight-
Associated Press ers deployed across the
BAGHDAD (AP) — As Iraq country. Victories against
emerges from three years IS have made their leaders
of war with the Islamic State increasingly powerful.
group, the U.S. is looking to The Trump administration
roll back the influence of has called for the paramili-
neighboring Iran and help tary forces to disband after
the central government the IS fight is complete. It
resolve its dispute with the has also vowed to take a
Kurdish region, the Ameri- much tougher line on Iran,
can envoy to the country threatening to pull the U.S.
told The Associated Press. out of the landmark 2015
U.S. Ambassador Douglas nuclear agreement and
Silliman took up his post in levying sanctions on Iran’s
Baghdad in September powerful Revolutionary
2016, just weeks before the Guard.
start of the operation to Iraq is meanwhile seek-
retake the northern city of ing external support for re-
Mosul. With IS now driven construction after the war,
out of all the territory it once which the government says
held and Iraq’s declaration caused an estimated $100
that the war against the billion in damage. Some
extremists is over, he says U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman speaks to the press during a gathering in Baghdad. The 3 million Iraqis are still dis-
American ambassador to Iraq says the U.S. is looking to roll back the influence of neighboring Iran
Washington is focused on and help the central government resolve its dispute with the Kurdish region. placed, months after major
keeping the peace and (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) fighting ended.
rebuilding, and sees Iran’s an alternative acronym for U.S.-led invasion toppled the country’s defense, pro- The Trump administration
influence as a problem. IS. “But frankly I have not Saddam Hussein’s Sunni- viding a bulwark in many has made clear that the
“Iran simply does not re- seen the Iranians donating led dictatorship and em- areas while the belea- $14.3 billion military cam-
spect the sovereignty of its money for humanitarian powered the country’s Shi- guered armed forces were paign against IS will not be
neighbors,” Silliman said. assistance, I have not seen ite majority. rebuilt. replaced with a similarly
“The Iranians have — to them contributing to the When IS swept across The now state-sanctioned funded reconstruction ef-
some extent — assisted the U.N. stabilization program.” northern and central Iraq paramilitaries, known as the fort. International aid orga-
government of Iraq in de- Iran gained major influ- in the summer of 2014, Iran- Popular Mobilization Forc- nizations are instead look-
feating ISIS,” he said, using ence in Iraq after the 2003 backed militias mobilized in es, consist of tens of thou- ing to wealthy Gulf states.q