Israel tightens law on control over Jerusalem

Israel's parliament today passed an amendment in the constitution sponsored by a far-right group aimed at making it more difficult for the government to hand the Palestinians parts of Jerusalem in any future peace deal.

The legislation was passed by a 64 to 51 vote in the Knesset.

Last month President Trump in a controversial move had recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal and had declared his intention to move the US embassy to the holy city.

The legislation makes it difficult for a two-state solution on Jerusalem which is one of the major disputes between Israelis and Palestinians.

The vote follows central committee of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party decision to extend Israeli sovereignty over settlements in the occupied West Bank.

"The law approved on Tuesday determines that any ceding of lands considered by Israel to be part of Jerusalem would necessitate a two-thirds majority vote in parliament - 80 out of 120 members of the Knesset," a statement said.

"It also enables changing the municipal definition of Jerusalem, which means that sectors of the city "could be declared separate entities", the parliament statement said.