US Warned against Relocating Embassy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US President Donald Trump is expected to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of the Israeli regime on Wednesday, and announce his plans to move the US embassy to the city.
The US president on Tuesday called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab leaders to inform them of his intentions.
He was warned by many in the Middle East and elsewhere of the "disastrous consequences" the move would have on regional stability and any prospect of a peace agreement.
No country currently has its embassy in Jerusalem, and the international community, including the US, does not recognize Israel's jurisdiction over and ownership of the city.
Israel claims the city as its capital, following the occupation of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war with Syria, Egypt and Jordan.
Palestinians have long seen Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Leaders from around the world reacted to the news of Trump's planned relocation of the US embassy.
"President Abbas warned of the dangerous consequences such a decision would have to the peace process and to the peace, security and stability of the region and of the world," Nabil Abu Rudeina, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, said in a statement after Trump's call, according to Al Jazeera.
Echoing Abbas' comments, Jordan's King Abdullah II told Trump that such a decision would have "dangerous repercussions on the stability and security of the region", according to a statement released by the palace.
The king also warned the US president of the risks of any decision that ran counter to a final settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict based on the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem is the key to achieving peace and stability in the region and the world," the statement said, adding that an embassy move would inflame Muslim and Christian feelings.
King Abdullah also called Abbas and said they had to both work together to "confront the consequences of this decision".
In a statement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also cautioned Trump against "taking measures that would undermine the chances of peace in the Middle East".
"The Egyptian president affirmed the Egyptian position on preserving the legal status of Jerusalem within the framework of international references and relevant UN resolutions," the statement said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Israel, following reports that the US was considering recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move that would be symbolized by relocating the embassy to Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem is a red line for Muslims," said Erdogan. "We implore the US once again: You cannot take this step."
Later in the day, Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's foreign minister, also warned that any US move to recognize Jerusalem "as the capital of Israel does not calm a conflict, rather it fuels it even more," and that such a move "would be a very dangerous development."
Gabriel said in Brussels that "it's in everyone's interest that this does not happen".
Federica Mogherini, the European Union's top diplomat, said "any action that would undermine" peace efforts to create two separate states for the Israelis and the Palestinians "must absolutely be avoided."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has "consistently warned against any unilateral action that would have the potential to undermine the two-state solution", his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters in New York.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the decision by the Trump administration will "[ignite] the spark of rage against the occupation", and that relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem "breaks red lines".
Palestinian factions have called for mass protests against the move.
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned the United States not to take any measures that would change Jerusalem's current legal and political status.
Aboul-Gheit spoke on Tuesday during a meeting in Cairo of Arab League representatives gathered to discuss Trump's planned move. He said the possible US decision will be a "dangerous measure that would have repercussions" across the entire Mideast region.
He also urged the Trump administration to reconsider the issue.
