World leaders condemn Trump’s Jerusalem announcement
PARIS (AFP) — Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has drawn sharp criticism, with the significant exception of Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump’s recognition as “historic” and a “courageous and just decision.”
Netanyahu also pledged no change to the status quo at Jerusalem’s highly sensitive holy sites in the city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the US could no longer play the role of peace broker after Trump’s decision.
“These deplorable and unacceptable measures deliberately undermine all peace efforts,” Abbas said in a speech.
Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization said Trump had destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.
Hamas said Trump’s decision would “open the gates of hell” on US interests in the region.
Saudi Arabia slammed Trump’s move as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said the decision goes against the “historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people.”
“The kingdom has already warned of the serious consequences of such an unjustified and irresponsible move,” said a Saudi royal court statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Iran condemned the US move, saying it threatened a “new intifada,” or uprising, against Israel.
“The provocative and unwise decision by the US... will provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada and an escalation of radical, angry and violent behavior,” the foreign ministry said on its website.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implicitly criticized Trump’s announcement, warning that Jerusalem’s status must be resolved through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
“From day one as secretary general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” Guterres said.
The office of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed Trump’s move, saying in a statement.”
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed his country’s “highest degrees of solidarity with the Palestinian people and its right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Jordan condemned Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as amounting to a violation of international law and the UN charter.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo, who leads the world’s biggest Muslimmajority country, said he “condemned” Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, and ordered the US ambassador in Jakarta to be summoned over the move.
“Indonesia strongly condemns the United States’ one-sided recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and asks the US to reconsider this decision,” said in televised remarks.
Turkey also slammed Trump’s Jerusalem announcement.
“We condemn the irresponsible statement of the US administration... the decision is against international law and relevant UN resolutions,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the British government disagreed with Trump’s decision, saying it was “unhelpful” for peace efforts.
French President Emmanuel Macron branded Trump’s stance as “regrettable” and called for efforts to “avoid violence at all costs.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said through her spokesman that she “does not support” Trump’s reversal of decades of US policy.
The European Union’s chief diplomat Federica Mogherini voiced “serious concern” at Trump’s new stance on Jerusalem.
“The aspirations of both parties must be fulfilled and a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states,” Mogherini said, referring to Israelis and Palestinians.