An Israeli minister for the first time on Friday contested the "myth" of the unity of Jerusalem, whose fate is the main sticking point in a marathon US-brokered peace summit with the Palestinians.
"Whoever thinks that in the current situation united Jerusalem is recognized is a party to refusing to see the truth and to the myth with which we are deluding ourselves," dovish Justice Minister Yossi Beilin told the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
"If, at the moment of truth, the Camp David talks fail over something that is not real and never was, that will be an historic mistake," he said.
Beilin's remarks were published on the day a cabinet colleague said Israel had agreed to a US proposal at the marathon Camp David peace talks to have joint Israel-Palestinian sovereignty over some parts of east Jerusalem.
The fate of the city, home to shrines sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, is the key stumbling bloc at the summit, which is due to enter its 11th day Friday.
"The appearance of a united Jerusalem must not prevent us from reaching an accord with the Palestinians and realizing our dream of peace," Beilin also said on Israeli army radio.
"The city is not really united," Beilin said, referring specifically to Arab districts on the outskirts of the walled Old City - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)
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