US warned against Jerusalem move
amman — Jordan has warned of “grave consequences” if US President Donald Trump decides to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, state media said.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told his US counterpart Rex Tillerson by phone that it was “necessary to preserve the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and refrain from any decision that aims to change that status”, official Petra news agency said.
Palestinian leaders are lobbying desperately against such a move, which Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said would boost fanaticism and violence while sinking hopes for peace.
Safadi warned of “grave consequences of any decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel given the city’s special religious, historical and national status — not just for Jordanians and Palestinians but across the Arab and Muslim worlds”.
Jordan’s top diplomat said such a move would damage American efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, warning it could “push the region towards more tension”.
Safadi called for emergency meetings of the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to “discuss how to deal with any American move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.
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.
Every US president has done this since 1995, judging the time not ripe for such a move, and Trump is expected to begrudgingly do so for a second time this week.
But, according to diplomats and observers, he is also now expected to announce in a speech on Wednesday that he supports Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital. The status of Jerusalem is a key
such a move will damage american efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, as it could push the region towards more tension
Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s Foreign Minister
issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the city as their capital and previous peace plans have come unstuck over debates on whether, and how, to divide sovereignty or oversee holy sites.
The last Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which claimed the lives of some 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis, was sparked by right-wing leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Al Aqsa mosque compound in 2000. —