PA calls for Arab, Islamic stance on Jerusalem

Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Minister Riyadh Al-Maliki has called for the Arab League and the Organisation of International Conferences to convene to discuss the dangers facing Jerusalem.

Directed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Al-Maliki briefed officials about the expected plan of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday.

He explained the consequences of such recognition on Palestine and the Palestinian cause, as well as Palestinian-Israeli and Arab-Israeli relations.

“The US will lose its role as a mediator of the peace process if it carries out this step and it will be classified as a supporter of the ambitions of the occupation state [Israel],” Al-Maliki said, blaming the possible “dangerous repercussions” of this step on the US.

He warned that such a step “could explode the situation in the Palestinian territories and even the whole region,” stressing that the US should play the role of an “objective” mediator rather than complicating possible solutions.

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Hamas leader and spokesman Salah Al-Bardaweel called for Abbas, his movement Fatah and the PA to unite with the Palestinian people “to form a united internal front to face the Zionist enemy on the ground and undermine its American support”.

Al-Bardaweel added: “The PA must review its political tract and return back to the Palestinian people,” noting that the issue is currently related to “the holiest holy place”.

During his electoral campaign Trump pledged he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv. The city of Jerusalem houses the third holiest site for Muslims, Al-Aqsa Mosque.