Rabat – Arab leaders including King Mohammed VI have strongly warned US President Donald Trump of the serious political tension that would result from his decision to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem and thus recognize the holy city as Israel’s capital. Nonetheless, the president appears to stand firm in his decision.
For weeks, Trump has been vowing to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to recognize the area as Israel’s capital. While this unprecedented move has been strongly welcomed by Israel, it has sparked an international outcry in the Arab world.
After signing a waiver that delayed plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem for six months, he US president is expected on Wednesday to order his aides to move the embassy to Jerusalem as well as to recognize it as Israel’s capital.
If Trump recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the US will be the first ever country to do so since the founding of Israel in 1948.
In response, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Arab leaders, including King Mohammed VI and King Abdullah II of Jordan, to warn Trump over his decisions.
King Mohammed VI addressed a message to Trump expressing his “deep concern” over the plans.
“The city of Al-Quds must remain a land of cohabitation and a symbol of coexistence and tolerance for all,” said King Mohammed VI. “The city in not only important for the parties of the conflict, but also for believers in the three Abrahamic religions, due to its unique religious characteristics, its ancient identity, and its great political symbolism.”
The Jordanian king said the move would have “dangerous repercussions on the stability and security of the region.”
British news outlet BBC reported that Trump had phone conversations with several regional leaders on Tuesday warning him against moving the embassy. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia told Trump that such plans “would constitute a flagrant provocation of Muslims all around the world.”
The Arab leaders’ calls, however, were apparently not heeded by Trump, who is seriously considering to make his decisions public on Wednesday.
According to White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, Trump was “pretty sold” in his thinking on the issue, reported BBC.
Jerusalem, known as Al-Quds in Arabic, is the sacred heart of the world’s religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Both Palestine and Israel have claimed Jerusalem as their capital city.
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