Pope renews call for Jerusalem status quo

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has again stressed the importance of preserving the status quo in Jerusalem and urged fresh talks between Israel and Palestinians on a two-state solution, the Vatican said Thursday. The Argentine pontiff strongly opposed United States President Donald Trump´s bitterly-contested move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and his plans to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv. Referring to “the unique nature of Jerusalem” in a letter to Egypt´s top Muslim cleric Ahmed al-Tayeb, Francis said that “only a special status, guaranteed by the international community, can preserve its identity, (and) unique vocation as a place of peace”.