Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hinted on Tuesday that Israel might permit a future Palestinian state to have connections with East Jerusalem - previously ruled out by successive Israeli governments.
Defending his recent decision to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to vote in Palestinian elections on 25 January, Mr Olmert said it was a possibility.
‘The responsible approach... is that as long as we don't cede our authority and sovereignty in all parts of Jerusalem, we certainly have an interest in preserving the link between the residents of East Jerusalem and a Palestinian state, and not the state of Israel.’
Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, but Israel has insisted on exerting sovereignty over the whole of the city.