Whole World condemn Trump Jerusalem move, spark protests
The Arab world, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), close US ally the United Kingdon, and France have either condemned or raised concerns over the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and announced that he would begin moving the US embassy there. Trump’s decision came despite warnings from leaders across the globe that the move would undermine peace efforts and spark violence.
“It is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” the President said in a statement at the White House.
Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of US and international policy on the holy city. He also directed the State Department to immediately begin the process of construction of a US Embassy in Jerusalem.
The Arab world has denounced the US’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and said the holy city would continue to remain the “eternal capital of the State of Palestine” and that Trump’s move has opened “the gates of hell”.
Leading the charge, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a televised speech on Wednesday, said their leadership would not accept the move and announced that the US could no longer participate in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
The Palestine Liberation Organization echoed Abbas’ comments and said the decision has “destroyed the two-state solution”.
The US President has “disqualified his country from any role whatsoever” in the peace process, media reports quoted Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinians, as saying.
The Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas, vociferously condemned Trump’s announcement, which was termed “historic” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The reversal of policy has opened “the gates of hell” and the decision “will not succeed in changing the fact that Jerusalem is an Arab Muslim land,” independent.co.uk quoted a militant group’s spokesperson as saying.
Egypt, which shares borders with both Israel and Gaza, where mostly Palestinians reside, also condemned the move and, in a statement, said such unilateral decisions go against international resolutions.
Another Muslim majority country, Turkey, too, slammed Trump’s announcement. “We condemn the irresponsible statement of the US administration that we learnt with great concern, declaring that it recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and it will be moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The United Nations Security Council has convened a meeting on Friday in the wake of Trump announcing his decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (Read more here)
At least eight of the 15 members of the Security Council, including Britain and France – the two permanent members that closely align themselves on most of the global issues – joined by other non-permanent members, asked for a special meeting of the top decision-making wing of the New York-headquartered world body.
