US decision won’t change legal status of Jerusalem, says UAE

The UAE has expressed its deep regret and condemnation of the US administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), the UAE said that such unilateral decisions, contrary to the internationally-legitimate resolutions, will not change the legal status of the city of Jerusalem, under occupation.

“Such decisions also show a bias against the historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, which have been guaranteed by the relevant international resolutions and have received the recognition and support of the international community,” the statement said.

The ministry also expressed its deep concern about the repercussions of this decision on the stability of the region, noting that it inflamed the feelings of Arab and Islamic peoples who have great esteem for Jerusalem.

It also pointed to the negative impact of the decision on the future of the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, which was established on the basis that the city of Jerusalem is among the final status issues, with its fate to be determined through negotiations between the parties concerned.

The ministry stressed the need to abide by all the UN resolutions related to the city of Jerusalem, including the UN Security Council resolutions and the principles of international law, which stipulate that diplomatic missions should not be established or transferred there.

The statement said that the UAE has warned that taking this step is a major violation of the principle of avoiding any impact or influence on the final status negotiations.

The president’s new step will represent a fundamental change and an unjustified bias in the neutral position of the US, who is working to achieve the desired ends in the peace process, the statement said. —

The step will represent a fundamental change and an unjustified bias in the neutral position of the US, who is working to achieve the desired ends in the peace process. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation