Trump tells Abbas of embassy shift to Jerusalem
ramallah — US President Donald Trump told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in a phone call on Tuesday that he intended to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem, Abbas’s office said.
Trump “informed the president (Abbas) on his intention to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem”, a statement from the Palestinian presidency said.
Abbas in turn “warned of the dangerous consequences of such a decision on the peace process, security and stability in the region and the world”, the statement said. “The president reaffirms our firm position that there can be no Palestinian state without east Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the resolutions of international law and the Arab peace initiative,” it said. —
washington — International leaders warned United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday that he risked outraging Muslims and jeopardising Middle East peace efforts if he recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and moved the US embassy there.
Trump delayed a controversial decision on the ancient city, following frantic public warnings from allies and private phone calls between world leaders.
Jerusalem’s status is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming the city as their capital.
Warnings multiplied on Tuesday, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warning Trump in a speech that the status of Jerusalem is a “red line” for Muslims and could even prompt Turkey to cut ties with Israel.
Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said member states had decided to meet in Cairo “given the danger of this matter, if it were to happen, and the possible negative consequences not only for the situation in Palestine but also for the Arab and Islamic region”.
US officials said Trump was expected to stop short of moving the embassy to Jerusalem outright — a central campaign pledge which his administration has postponed once already.
But domestic politics may still push him to break with decades of US policy recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital instead in a gesture towards conservative voters and donors.
“The president has been clear on this issue from the get-go: It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley. He said a declaration on the move would be made “in the coming days.” Trump has said he wants to relaunch frozen peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in search of the “ultimate
That (recognition of Jerusalem) totally destroys any chance that he will play a role as an honest broker. That takes away... the deal of the century. Nabil Shaath, adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas
deal” — but recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would destroy that effort, a senior Palestinian official warned.
“That totally destroys any chance that he will play a role as an honest broker,” Nabil Shaath, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters.
Saeb Erakat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, earlier warned that a change in the US stance on Jerusalem
mr Trump, Jerusalem is the red line of muslims. It is a violation of international law to take a decision supporting Israel while Palestinian society’s wounds are still bleeding
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish President
would spell disaster. Palestinian leaders have been lobbying regional leaders to oppose any shift in US policy, and the armed Islamist movement Hamas has threatened to launch a new “intifada” uprising.
Gheit called on US to reconsider. And US ally Saudi Arabia voiced “grave and deep concern” over the possible move. “This step will have serious implications and will further complicate the PalestinianIsraeli
any United states announcement on the status of Jerusalem prior to a final settlement would have a detrimental impact on the peace process Prince Khalid bin Salman Saudi Ambassador to US
conflict,” the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing a foreign ministry source. “It will also obstruct the ongoing efforts to revive the peace process.”
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier warned Trump that Jerusalem’s status must be decided “within the framework of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.” Amid internal White House disagreements, several US administration officials were unable
The kingdom hopes the Us not to take such a decision as this will affect it’s ability to continue its attempt of reaching a just solution for the Palestinian cause
An official of Saudi Foreign Ministry
or unwilling to say with certainty what Trump would decide.
Israeli’s defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, however,urged Trump to grasp a “historic opportunity.”
All foreign embassies in Israel are located in Tel Aviv.
Trump was supposed to decide on Monday whether to sign a legal waiver delaying by six months plans to move the US embassy from the Holy City. —