Cairo : The Arab League and Palestine have warned the US against moving its embassy to Jerusalem, saying such a move would set back any future peace negotiations and could spark a new wave of violence in the strife-torn region.
The warnings come as President Donald Trump considers moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, effectively recognizing the ancient city as Israel’s capital despite Palestinian claims to east Jerusalem. The move could come as early as Monday.
“We warned the American side that if the American government does in fact carry out that statement to recognize a unified Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and transfers the American embassy to Jerusalem, this is a step that will end any chance of a peace process,” Naabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said Sunday.
Abbas is trying to rally international opposition to such a move.
The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit echoed the Palestinian warnings.
“We say very clearly that taking such action is not justified … It will not serve peace or stability, but will fuel extremism and resort to violence,” Gheit said in a statement.
“It only benefits one side; the Israeli government that is hostile to peace,” he added.
Late Sunday, a warning also came from Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who said he had raised the matter with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
“Such a decision would trigger anger across Arab Muslim worlds, fuel tension and jeopardize peace efforts,” he wrote on Twitter.
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