Arabs Demand That UN Remove Jerusalem Panel From Israel Exhibit

"Arab and Islamic nations are demanding that the United Nations remove a panel from an Israeli exhibition that calls Jerusalem 'the spiritual and physical capital of the Jewish people.'

A letter from the Palestinian UN mission to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft circulated Thursday evening expressed 'vehement rejection' at the description, echoing protests by Arab nations at the UN and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation...

The letter said any references 'which purport to assert Israeli sovereignty on this land ... are legally, politically and morally incorrect and unacceptable.'

Jerusalem is the historic capital of the Jewish people, and the west of the city has been under Israeli sovereignty since the foundation of the modern state. Israel annexed the Old City and east Jerusalem after capturing the territory in the 1967 Six Day War...

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the Israeli mission followed the rules for mounting an exhibition...

Parts of the exhibition were ordered removed by UN officials in April, but the decision was reversed after Israel protested."