Yousef: Trump’s decision harms West’s interests

Head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza, Essam Yousef, said that the Arab governments need to take practical steps to respond to Washington’s decision to move the American embassy to occupied Jerusalem and to recognise the city as the Israeli capital.

In a press statement last Wednesday, Yousef stressed the need for true and effective responses from the Arab countries to the American step, as it targets the dignity of the nation and a symbol of its pride and identity, i.e. Jerusalem.

“The time has come, after the nation’s soul and spirit has been targeted. This means that the issue today is clearly an existential issue for the nation. The matter goes beyond the rights and constants of the Palestinian people,” he added.

Yousef called on all representatives and envoys of the Arab and Muslim countries in the UN, as well as Arab diplomats in the West, to send letters of protest and condemnation of the American decision. He also urged them to inform all international community parties and decision-makers that this decision “does not serve world peace”.

“The American decision will harm the West’s interests in the Arab and Muslim worlds, as well as negatively impact civilisational and humanitarian interaction among the peoples of the world in the long run.”

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Yousef urged the PLO and PA to take actions suitable for the magnitude of the issue, such as withdrawing its recognition of Israel, especially since the capital of the Palestinian state is being targeted.

He also called on Palestinians inside Palestine and in the diaspora to organise events and demonstrations displaying their rejection and condemnation of the American decision. He noted that the Palestinians, along with the free people of the world, are capable of thwarting the plot against the Palestinian future, rights and identity.

Yousef advised the Arab and Muslim people around the world to express their rejection of the American embassy being moved to occupied Jerusalem by means of popular and public activities and protests in front of the American embassies across the world.