CAIRO: Arab foreign ministers on Sunday urged the United States to abandon its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying the move would increase violence throughout the region.
The announcement by President Donald Trump on Wednesday was a “dangerous violation of international law” and had no legal impact, the Arab League said in a statement after several hours of meetings attended by all its members in Cairo.
Trump´s endorsement of Israel´s claim to all of Jerusalem as its capital would reverse long-standing US policy that the city´s status must be decided in negotiations with the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
“The decision has no legal effect…it deepens tension, ignites anger and threatens to plunge region into more violence and chaos,” the Arab League said at 3 a.m. local time after hours of meetings that began on Saturday evening.
It said it would seek a UN Security Council resolution rejecting the US move.
Lebanon´s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said during the emergency meeting that Arab nations should consider imposing economic sanctions against the United States to prevent it moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
“Pre-emptive measures (must be) taken…beginning with diplomatic measures, then political, then economic and financial sanctions,” he said, without giving specific details.
The Arab League statement made no mention of economic sanctions.
Arab criticism of Trump´s plan contrasted sharply with the praise Washington´s traditional Arab allies heaped on him at the beginning of his administration in January.
Trending
- 13 of a family die, truck plunges into ravine
- PM expresses concern over situation of Pakistani students in Bishkek
- Ex AJK SCBA Chief Raja Inam accuses AJK PM Anwar-ul-Haq of giving peaceful rights movement a violent turn in the State
- Zardari’s decision to nominate Governors for both provinces is a great decision: Zahir Latif
- CGH organizes a walk on World Blood Pressure Day
- Threatening to Govt officers remained the same in KP by PTI leadership Mansehra
- Second French Alumni Day celebrated in Pakistan in May
- Govt seeks help from Federal govt vis a completion of remaining work and restoration of damaged infrastructure: PM AJK