ARAB NATIONS DEMAND THAT U.S. RESCIND DECISION ON JERUSALEM
Arab foreign ministers also urge international community to recognise Palestinian state
ARAB foreign ministers on Saturday called on the United States to rescind its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and for the international community to recognise a Palestinian state.
In a resolution after an emergency meeting here, Arab League member ministers said the US had “withdrawn itself as a sponsor and broker” of the Israel Palestinian peace process with its controversial move.
The ministers met at the league’s headquarters to formulate a response to the US decision, which has been roundly criticised in the Arab world and internationally.
The move by US President Donald Trump is “denounced and condemned”, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit told the ministers at the beginning of the meeting.
The ministers said they would head to the United Nations Security Council for a resolution condemning the US decision as a violation of international law.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Saturday that Arab nations should consider imposing economic sanctions on the US to prevent it moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
“Pre-emptive measures (must be) taken against the decision... beginning with diplomatic measures, then political, then economic and financial sanctions,” he said.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed alNahayan warned that Trump’s Jerusalem move could provide a lifeline to militants after the setbacks they suffered this year. He said the United Arab Emirates hoped that Washington would reconsider its decision.
“The US move could throw a lifebuoy to terrorists and armed groups, which have begun to lose ground in the region,” said Sheikh Mohammed to a delegation from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday described Israel as a “terrorist state” and vowed to use “all means to fight” against the US recognition of Jerusalem as the country’s capital.
“Palestine is an innocent victim... As for Israel, it is a terrorist state, yes, terrorist! We will not abandon Jerusalem to the mercy of a state that kills children.” Erdogan said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused European leaders of “hypocrisy” over condemnation of Trump’s Jerusalem declaration, saying rockets from Gaza should also be criticised.
“While I respect Europe, I am not prepared to accept a double standard from it,” said Netanyahu, who has also faced heavy criticism from European leaders over Israeli settlement building.
“I hear voices from there condemning President Trump’s historic statement, but I have not heard condemnations of the rockets fired at Israel or the terrible incitement against it.
“I am not prepared to accept this hypocrisy,” he said.
Czech President Milos Zeman on Saturday accused the EU of cowardice.
“The European Union, cowards, are doing all they can so a pro-Palestinian terrorist movement can have supremacy over a pro-Israeli movement,” the 73year-old, who is targeting a second term from January, told delegates attending the congress of the far right Freedom and Direct Democracy party, which opposes immigration and the EU.
Zeman said he had spoken in favour of Prague moving the Czech embassy to Jerusalem on a visit four years ago, a proposal which met with a reserved political response in his homeland.
Following Trump’s announcement, the Czech Foreign Ministry said it saw Jerusalem as the future capital both of Israel and a future Palestinian state and that Prague could only consider moving its embassy after consulting regional partners.
A synagogue in Sweden’s second largest city Gothenburg was attacked in a failed arson attempt on Saturday, police said.
“A burning object was thrown at the building but it (the fire) did not catch on,” police spokesman Lars Tunefjord said.
No one was injured but Jewish community members said the synagogue was attacked by masked men who threw multiple burning objects.
Some 20 youngsters briefly took shelter in a cellar during the attack, they added. Agencies