Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will lead to ‘endless religious war,’ Palestinian president says

JERUSALEM—Fresh anger poured in from across the Muslim world Wednesday as President Donald Trump said theUnited States recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that Arab and European leaders have warned could spark violence and destroy any hopes of reviving the Mideast peace process.

Israel responded with satisfaction to the president’s announcement, in which Trump also said he was setting in motion the process of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv. In a show of appreciation, the Jerusalem municipality projected the American and Israeli flags onto the walls of the Old City, home to important Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites.

Yet even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s declaration as “courageous and just,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas slammed the “destruction of all the efforts to achieve peace.”

Ahead of the announcement, U.S. allies in the Middle East and Europe had urged Trump to refrain from taking steps they fear could ignite unrest across the region.

Jerusalem’s status is one of the most sensitive and inflammatory issues fuelling the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims the city in entirety as its capital; Palestinians want the eastern sector to be the seat of government for a future state.

In a White House address, Trump called his decision “overdue” and in America’s best interests. “This is nothing more or less than the recognition of reality,” he said.

The president made no reference to signing a waiver that officials said he would sign delaying any move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Establishing a Jerusalem embassy was a major campaign promise of Trump’s and one that officials said he had focused on in discussions with top advisers in recent weeks. The waiver means there will be no embassy move for at least another six months.

Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will lead to ‘endless religious war,’ Palestinian president says
Instead, Trump stressed that he directed the State Department begin the process of moving the embassy as required by U.S. law, however many years that might take. After his speech, he signed a proclamation to that effect.

Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a powerful symbolic step. The U.S. has never endorsed the Jewish state’s claim of sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem and has seen the city’s future as indelibly linked to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace agreement. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has been trying to restart a new peace process.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking from New York after the address, said Jerusalem’s status was an issue to be decided through negotiations.

“In this moment of great anxiety, I want to make it clear there is no alternative to the two-state solution,” he said, referring to a broad international consensus supporting side-by-side Israeli and Palestinian states.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed that Jerusalem’s status quo would be preserved to avoid adding new tension to a world “already shaken and scarred by many cruel conflicts.”

Leaders from Britain, France, Germany and Italy joined in the chorus of criticism for Trump’s decision. French President Emmanuel Macron called the U.S. move “regrettable.” British Prime Minister Theresa May said she intended to speak with Trump and express concerns.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meeting in the Turkish capital with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, said the president’s stance would provide a boost for terrorist groups. The leaders plan to convene extraordinary meetings of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in the coming days to discuss the region’s response to the U.S. moves.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the whole world opposes U.S. President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there. Cavusoglu commented before meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (The Associated Press)
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, according to live footage from Turkey’s state-run TRT television. Erdogan threatened this week to cut ties with Israel if Trump went ahead, calling Jerusalem a “red line” for Muslims.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Arab League’s secretary-general, said he was surprised that the U.S. administration would “get involved in an unjustified provocation of the feelings of 360 million Arabs and 1.5 billion Muslims to please Israel.”

The status of Israel is one of the few issues that unites leaders in a part of the world riven by war and sectarian divides. Archrivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are engaged in deadly proxy conflicts in Yemen and Syria, have offered some of the harshest commentary about Trump’s plan in recent days.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told a gathering of Iranian officials Wednesday that “without a doubt, the Islamic world will resist this conspiracy . . . and beloved Palestine will finally be freed,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Palestinians, already discouraged over what they describe as a consistently pro-Israel stance by the U.S., said Trump’s decision essentially killed any remaining peace hopes. Leaders called for three “days of rage” culminating after Friday prayers.

Although protests in the West Bank were muted Wednesday, in part because of the cold weather and rain, hundreds took to the streets in the Gaza Strip, chanting angry slogans against the U.S. and Israel, and burning the flags of both countries.

“Trump has just declared the end of the two-state solution,” said Tahrir Aloumor, 36, who joined a demonstration in the Jabaliya refugee camp. “Shame on you, Trump.”

International backing for Trump’s plan was almost nonexistent, but Israeli media reports on Wednesday cited at least one leader who is on board with the president’s move: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is denounced by human rights groups and many Western governments for a deadly anti-drug campaign. Israel’s Channel One reported that Duterte expressed interest in moving his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Trump administration has opted against an earlier plan of converting the existing U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem to an embassy, said a non-governmental expert on the Middle East who consults regularly with the White House. Instead, it’s looking to construct an entirely new facility over the long term and a U.S. team is examining prospective sites in Jerusalem, said the individual, who wasn’t authorized to disclose private conversations with U.S. officials and requested anonymity.

http://www.metrodailies.com/worldnews/trumps-recognition-jerusalem-israels-capital/

cc:Lalasticlala,OAM4J

Palestine fumes is characterised by their unending hate for Israel and all they stand for little wonder they never wanted Israel as a country back in the 19 's but due to God's promise on them made them stand stronger

and about the war threat I laugh in Swahili the Palestine has always been the one loosing much souls, the president is bent on loosing more wount be suprised anyway if he comes crying for ceasefire.

left to me I support trump's decision let the arabs do their worst they'd
still be the great looser

The Saudis will definitely keep mute about this decision. I think it doesn't really affect them negatively.

labanj1:
The Saudis will definitely keep mute about this decision. I think it doesn't really affect them negatively.

it will

can Palestine fight war?

fellowman:
can Palestine fight war?

which country no fit fight..na to win or lose

labanj1:
The Saudis will definitely keep mute about this decision. I think it doesn't really affect them negatively.

the m0r0nic saudis are busy genociding their brothers and sisters in Yemen

Yeye words

Cc:Lalasticlala,OAM4J

The Saudis are not going to do anything to help.
Like wise the Egyptians.

This is a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Palestinians will take the fall because of Hezbollah.

Is real is the beautiful bride.

fellowman:
can Palestine fight war?

No mind them. I just dey laff dem. Tomorrow afternoon is to die for. We want to see what the Muslim will do.

Make una gather, una go fail

SweetJoystick:
Make una gather, una go fail

u sure?

Lalasticlala Aw far bro

Alcatraz005:


No mind them. I just dey laff dem. Tomorrow afternoon is to die for. We want to see what the Muslim will do.

we don reach tomorrow oh

stephenmorris:
u sure?

Security forces would be on the lookout!