Trump under fire, again
All eyes are on Jerusalem as US President Donald Trump recognises Jerusalem as the Isreali capital.
Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital has drawn sharp criticism, with the significant exception of Israel. Here are key reactions from around the world: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump's recognition as “historic” and a “courageous and just decision”. Netanyahu also pledged no change to the status quo at Jerusalem's highly sensitive holy sites in the city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the US could no longer play the role of peace broker after Trump's decision.
“These deplorable and unacceptable measures deliberately undermine all peace efforts,” Abbas said in a speech. The secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation said Trump had destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“He destroyed the two-state solution,” Saeb Erekat, who long served as the Palestinians' top negotiator, told journalists. Hamas said Trump's decision would “open the gates of hell” on US interests in the region.
“This decision will open the gates of hell on US interests in the region,” Ismail Radwan, an official with the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, told journalists. Saudi Arabia slammed Trump's move as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said the decision goes against the “historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people”. Iran condemned the US move, saying it threatened a “new intifada”, or uprising, against Israel.
“The provocative and unwise decision by the US... will provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada and an escalation of radical, angry and violent behaviour,” the foreign ministry said on its website.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implicitly criticised Trump's announcement, warning that Jerusalem's status must be resolved through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
“From day one as secretary general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardise the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” Guterres said. Prime Minister Theresa May said the British government disagreed with Trump's decision, saying it was “unhelpful” for peace efforts.
“We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital,” she said in a statement.
“We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said through her spokesman that she “does not support” Trump's reversal of decades of US policy.
NAMPA/AFP
“These deplorable and unacceptable measures deliberately undermine all peace efforts,” Abbas said in a speech. The secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation said Trump had destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“He destroyed the two-state solution,” Saeb Erekat, who long served as the Palestinians' top negotiator, told journalists. Hamas said Trump's decision would “open the gates of hell” on US interests in the region.
“This decision will open the gates of hell on US interests in the region,” Ismail Radwan, an official with the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, told journalists. Saudi Arabia slammed Trump's move as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said the decision goes against the “historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people”. Iran condemned the US move, saying it threatened a “new intifada”, or uprising, against Israel.
“The provocative and unwise decision by the US... will provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada and an escalation of radical, angry and violent behaviour,” the foreign ministry said on its website.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implicitly criticised Trump's announcement, warning that Jerusalem's status must be resolved through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
“From day one as secretary general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardise the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” Guterres said. Prime Minister Theresa May said the British government disagreed with Trump's decision, saying it was “unhelpful” for peace efforts.
“We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital,” she said in a statement.
“We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said through her spokesman that she “does not support” Trump's reversal of decades of US policy.
NAMPA/AFP
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