Trump close to Jerusalem decision

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is close to a decision on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, his son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner said on Sunday.

Palestinian leaders are lobbying desperately against such a move, which the Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said would boost fanaticism and violence while sinking hopes for peace.

But Kushner, 36, the head of a small and tight-knit White House negotiating team, made a rare public appearance to put an optimistic face on his efforts.

Trump must decide today 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 now expected to announce in a speech tomorrow that he supports Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital.

Arab League leader Abul Gheit said his organisation was closely following the issue and is in contact with the Palestinian authorities and Arab states.

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

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

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