Palestine, Jordan warn US on recognising Jerusalem

WASHINGTON: Palestine, Jordan and the Arab League made lastminute efforts to persuade US President Donald Trump not to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, amid speculation that he might do so in a speech this week.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said: “Any American step related to the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, or moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, represents a threat to the future of the peace process and is unacceptable for the Palestinians, Arabs and internationally.”

Arab League leader Ahmed Abul Gheit said his organisation was closely following the issue and was in contact with the Palestinian authorities and Arab states to coordinate the Arab position if Trump takes that step.

“It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this step without any regard to the dangers it carries to the stability of the Middle East and the whole world,” he said on Sunday.

Jordan’s foreign minister

ON MONDAY, TRUMP MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO SIGN A LEGAL WAIVER THAT WOULD DELAY PLANS TO MOVE THE US EMBASSY FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS

Ayman Safadi tweeted he had contacted the US secretary of state Rex Tillerson “on dangerous consequences of recognising Jerusalem as capital of Israel,” warning such a move would trigger anger across Arab Muslim worlds, fuel tension and jeopardise peace efforts.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s sonin-law and his Middle East peace envoy, made a rare public appearance on Sunday to say the president is close to a decision on the issue. “The president’s going to make his decision,” he told the Saban Forum, choosing not to deny reports Trump will declare Jerusalem Israel’s capital on Wednesday.

“When he makes his decision he’ll be the one who wants to tell you,” he said.