World reacts to Jerusalem move

Arabs, Europe and UN reject Trump's decision to move US embassy in Israel

LONDON - Arabs and Muslims across the Middle East on Wednesday condemned the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as an incendiary move in a volatile region and Palestinians said Washington was abandoning its leading role as a peace mediator.

The European Union and United Nations also voiced alarm at US President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and its repercussions for any chances of reviving Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Major US allies came out against Trump's reversal of decades of US and broad international policy on Jerusalem.

France rejected the "unilateral" decision while appealing for calm in the region. Britain said the move would not help peace efforts and Jerusalem should ultimately be shared by Israel and a future Palestinian state. Germany said Jerusalem's status could only be resolved on the basis of a two-state solution.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that he is "against any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians".

"Jerusalem is a final status issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties on the basis of the relevant Security

The destiny of Jerusalem is not determined by the US president."

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of Palestine Liberation Organization Council and General Assembly resolutions," the UN chief said.

The status of Jerusalem is home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths. Its eastern sector was captured by Israel in a 1967 war and annexed in a move not recognized internationally. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem for the capital of an independent state they seek.

Israel, by contrast, applauded Trump's move. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a prerecorded video message that it was "an important step toward peace" and it was "our goal from Israel's first day".

Shortly after Trump's announcement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the US decision, saying it will not give any legitimacy to Israel in this matter.

He said the US is ignoring and contradicting "the international consensus expressed by the positions of various countries of the world".

Palestine Liberation Organization Secretary-General Saeb Erekat also slammed the move, saying "the destiny of Jerusalem is not determined by the US president".

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Wednesday said that the status of Jerusalem is sensitive and complicated, urging all parties concerned to exercise caution for peace and tranquillity in the Middle East.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the US move is leading to a split in the international community.

The Saudi Royal Court issued a statement saying that the kingdom followed "with deep sorrow" Trump's decision and warned of "dangerous consequences of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem".

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani slammed the move as "illegal" and would further destabilize the Middle East, holding Israel "responsible for all the insecurity and instability" in the region.

Protests broke out in parts of Jordan's capital Amman inhabited by Palestinian refugees, with youths chanting anti-American slogans. In the Baqaa refugee camp on Amman's outskirts, hundreds roamed the streets denouncing Trump and urging Jordan to scrap its 1994 peace treaty with Israel. "Down with America. ... America is the mother of terror," they chanted.

Angry Palestinians switched off Christmas lights at Jesus' traditional birthplace in the West Bank town of Bethlehem and in Ramallah. A tree adorned with lights outside Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus was born, and another in Ramallah, next to the grave of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, were plunged into darkness.

All Palestinian factions called for a general strike and protest rallies at midday on Thursday.

Reuters - Xinhua

(China Daily 12/08/2017 page12)