EU: Trump's decision on al-Quds to take Mideast to 'even darker times'

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli "capital" could take the region "backwards to even darker times."

Speaking at a press conference in the Belgian capital, Brussels, Mogherini warned that Trump's decision "has a very worrying potential impact."

"It is a very fragile context and the announcement has the potential to send us backwards to even darker times than the ones we're already living in," she added.

Mogherini's comments came one day after Trump officially recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the "capital" of Israel and directed his administration to begin a years-long process of moving the American embassy in Tel Aviv to the holy city.

PressTV-Trump: Jerusalem al-Quds is Israel's capital

US President Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital.

Trump's move sparked worldwide condemnations with warnings of more tensions in the occupied territories.

The top EU diplomat underlined the need for "an even stronger engagement for peace" at the current difficult time.

"What we truly need in these difficult times is wisdom and to listen to the wise voices calling for peace and peaceful reactions," she said. "The most urgent priority now is that all relevant actors avoid to further escalate tensions on the ground."

The Tel Aviv regime lays claim to the entirety of Jerusalem al-Quds as its “capital” while the Palestinians want its eastern part as the capital of their future state.

Putin, Erdogan voice concerns over US embassy move

In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held a phone conversation on Thursday, during which they voiced concerns over Washington's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds.

"Both sides expressed serious concern in connection with the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the announcement of plans to transfer the American embassy there from Tel Aviv. Such steps can cancel out prospects for a Middle East peace process," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"They noted that a further escalation of tension in the region cannot be allowed. The efforts of the international community should be directed to facilitating a renewal of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations with the aim of seeking compromise solutions to all the problems, including the question of Jerusalem's status," it added.

Russia concerned about Trump's move

Similarly, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced alarm over Trump's decision, warning that it risked aggravating already complicated Israeli-Palestinian ties and threatened regional security.

"Moscow views the decisions announced in Washington with serious concern," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

"In light of this we call on all involved parties to show restraint and forgo any action that would be fraught with dangerous and uncontrollable consequences," it added.

Moscow further reiterated that the dispute over the status of Jerusalem al-Quds should be resolved through "direct Palestinian-Israeli talks".

Additionally, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the recent US move is causing a split in the international community.

Russia's RIA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying that Moscow would criticize Trump's decision at the United Nations Security Council.

The council is expected to meet on Friday for talks called by more than half its members in response to Trump’s controversial decision.

Turkey : US pulled the pin on a bomb

Also on Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim accused Washington of trying to "blow up” the entire region.

"The United States has pulled the pin on a bomb ready to blow in the region," Yildirim told a conference in Ankara on Thursday.

He emphasized that Turkey did not recognize the US measure, urging Washington to revise its decision.

"First of all, as Turkey, we consider this decision null and void. Secondly, Jerusalem, and particularly the al-Aqsa mosque, is considered a holy place by three religions. So a decision that changes or questions this status will stir up a big catastrophe," Yildirim said.

Hezbollah MPs slam aggression against Palestine

Meanwhile, the parliamentary group of the Hezbollah resistance movement said in a televised statement that Trump's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital" constituted an unprecedented aggression against Palestine.

The statement by the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc also described resistance as the only way for the Palestinians to recover their rights.

The statement added that Trump's move was the "most dangerous" move made by any American administration as it threatened international security.

Qatar warns of repercussions

Separately, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani warned Trump during a phone call of the consequences of his contentious decision, the Persian Gulf state's Foreign Ministry said.

The Qatari emir "warned of the serious repercussions of this step, which would further complicate the situation in the Middle East and negatively affect the security and stability in the region," read a statement from the ministry.

Iraq raps Trump's measure

Meanwhile, an Iraqi volunteer military force threatened to attack US forces in the country after Trump's move.

"The decision by Trump on al-Quds (Jerusalem) makes it legitimate to strike the American forces in Iraq," Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba Akram al-Kaabi said in a statement.

Moreover, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari summoned the US ambassador to Baghdad to protest the decision.

Prominent Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr also demanded the closure of the American embassy in Baghdad and warned that "we can reach Israel through Syria."

Violent clashes

In the Palestinian territories, violent clashes erupted between protestants and Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Ismail Haniyeh, leader of  the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, called for a new intifada (uprising) against Israel.

Protests were also held in Gaza and the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, al-Khalil (Hebron) and Nablus.

Three Palestinians were injured east of the Gaza city of Khan Yunis, medical sources and witnesses said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that dozens were wounded from tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire in the West Bank clashes.

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