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Palestine’s Abbas warns against any change in US policy on Quds

Sunday, 03 December 2017 6:55 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 03 December 2017 6:55 PM ]

File photo shows Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

The President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas has warned that any change in US policy on the occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds would seriously undermine peace efforts and would harm Palestine’s interests.

“Any American step related to the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, or moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, represents a threat to the future of the peace process and is unacceptable for the Palestinians, Arabs and internationally,” Abbas said Sunday.

The entire Jerusalem al-Quds is currently under Israel’s control while the regime also claims the city’s eastern part which hosts the third holiest Muslim site and has been designated as “occupied” under international law since the 1967 Arab War.

US President Donald Trump vowed last year during election campaign that he would move the US embassy in Tel Aviv to the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. Reports say he is planning to recognize the city as capital of Israel this week in an apparent bid to offset his embassy moving pledge.

Abbas has reportedly contacted Arab and world leaders to rally support against the possible Washington move. His spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, said the Palestinian leader had been in touch with leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and France, to discuss potential countermeasures.

“We believe that such an American step, if it takes place, will enter the region in a new course, and a dangerous phase whose results cannot be controlled,” Abu Rdeneh said.

Other Palestinian officials also reacted to the possible change of US policy on Jerusalem al-Quds, saying it would further isolate the US from international efforts aimed at reaching a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the move would “promote international anarchy and disrespect for global institutions and law” while it could disqualify the US from playing “any role in any initiative toward achieving a just and lasting peace.”

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