Arab League says moving US embassy to Jerusalem will ‘nourish fanaticism’

Palestinian leaders are lobbying desperately against the US embassy in Israel moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, with the Arab League warning the shift would lead to violence.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the League’s secretary general, said the organisation was closely following the situation, and was in contact with Palestinian authorities and fellow states to co-ordinate the Arab position should US president Donald Trump move the embassy.

Mr Gheit said the move would end any hopes for peace between Palestine and Israel.

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

“Nothing justifies this act. It will not serve peace or stability, instead it will nourish fanaticism and violence.”

Palestinians have been lobbying regional leaders to oppose the decision and the militant movement Hamas has threatened to launch a new intifada.

Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, made a rare public appearance on Sunday and did not deny reports that tomorrow Mr Trump would declare that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.

“The president’s going to make his decision,” Mr Kushner told the Saban Forum.

“He’s still looking at a lot of different facts and when he makes his decision he’ll be the one who wants to tell you.”

Mr Trump must today decide whether to sign a legal waiver that would delay plans to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for another six months, something that every US president has done since 1995.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniya late on Sunday, with the two sides agreeing on their opposition to a shift in that US policy.

The rare call between the two came as attempts to reach a reconciliation deal faltered in recent days.

The Palestinian foreign ministry called for an emergency meeting between the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation to discuss “necessary steps” if Mr Trump declared Jerusalem Israel’s capital.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said that a change in the US stance on Jerusalem would spell disaster.

Mr Erekat said that the US would “be disqualifying itself from playing a role in any initiative towards achieving a just and lasting peace”.

Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi issued warnings to US secretary of state Rex Tillerson on Sunday night.

“He insisted on the need to maintain the historical and legal situation of Jerusalem and on not taking any decision that might change that,” state news agency Petra said.

“He warned of the dangers as Jerusalem is not only holy to Palestinians and Jordanians, but to the whole Arab Muslim world.

“It will negatively affect US efforts to establish Palestinian-Israeli peace, efforts that Jordan has welcomed and Arab countries support.”

It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this step without any regard to the dangers it carries ... AHMED ABOUL GHEIT Arab League secretary general