U.S. SLAMMED OVER
It’s a declaration of war, kiss of death to peace process, says Palestine envoy to UK
WASHINGTON
GMARIE-LOUISE WIRTH, 100-year-old French bar owner
LOBAL concern mounted yesterday ahead of an announcement by United States President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, with Pope Francis joining a list of leaders warning of the potential for dangerous fallout.
Trump will also order planning to begin on moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, upending decades of careful US policy.
“It will be a matter of some years,” a senior administration officer said on condition of anonymity.
The status of Jerusalem is a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the city as their capital.
On Tuesday, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, France, Germany and Turkey all warned Trump against the move.
Further warnings from world leaders came yesterday.
The Palestinians’ chief representative to Britain said Trump’s move would effectively be making a declaration of war.
“The move means a kiss of death to the two-state solution,” Manuel Hassassian said in a BBC radio interview.
“He is declaring war in the Middle East. He is declaring war against Muslims and Christians who are not going to accept the holy shrines to be totally under the hegemony of Israel.”
A day after speaking by phone with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Pope Francis said: “Jerusalem is a unique city, sacred for Jews, Christians and Muslims.”
The pontiff said maintaining Jerusalem’s status quo was important “to avoid adding new elements of tension to an already volatile world that is wracked by so many cruel conflicts”.
But Trump’s move comes close to fulfilling a campaign promise and will delight his political donors and the conservative and evangelical base.
Most of the international community does not formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
US officials talk of “threading the needle” — fulfilling Trump’s campaign pledge, while keeping the peace process on the rails.
But critics say Trump’s approach is more like “splitting the baby” and could also extinguish his efforts to broker Middle East peace, while igniting the flames of conflict in a region reeling from crises. AFP