Jerusalem Gambit?

WITH the signing of the Israel-PLO accord in the East Room September 28, the attention of those concerned with the Middle East peace process has already shifted to the final-status negotiations to begin no later than the end of 1996. Foremost among the issues to be resolved is the status of Jerusalem.

Indeed, now that the Baltic states have regained their freedom, Jerusalem is one of the last places where de facto and de jure aspects of international law are sharply at odds. For while the United States and every other Western country de facto treat West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, no government formally accepts Israeli sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem in its pre-or post-1967 borders. Just two countries, Costa Rica and El Salvador, maintain embassies there.

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WITH the signing of the Israel-PLO accord in the East Room September 28, the attention of those concerned with the Middle East peace process has already shifted to the final-status negotiations to begin no later than the end of 1996. Foremost among the issues to be resolved is the status of Jerusalem.

Indeed, now that the Baltic states have regained their freedom, Jerusalem is one of the last places where de facto and de jure aspects of international law are sharply at odds. For while the United States and every other Western country de facto treat West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, no government formally accepts Israeli sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem in its pre-or post-1967 borders. Just two countries, Costa Rica and El Salvador, maintain embassies there.