31 dec 2017
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Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director of Islamic Endowments Department, said that Israeli break-ins into Al-Aqsa Mosque during 2017 were notably escalated.
Speaking to the PIC reporter, Sheikh al-Khatib affirmed that 26,000 settlers stormed the holy shrine over 2017 under Israeli government’ support. The rate constitutes the highest over the years, he added. Sheikh al-Khatib raised alarm bells over Israeli ongoing attempts to change the status quo in the Mosque. |
30 dec 2017
Dozens of fanatic Jewish settlers on Saturday assaulted a group of Palestinian municipality staff while paving the roads of the Old City in al-Khalil in the southern West Bank.
The PIC reporter said that extremist settlers raided al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City and asked the workers to leave the area. When they refused to do so, altercations and clashes resulted, he added.
Israeli occupation forces were summoned by settlers who were attacking Palestinians with stones. The municipality staff were forced to end their works and leave the area after being injured and left with bruises.
The PIC reporter said that extremist settlers raided al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City and asked the workers to leave the area. When they refused to do so, altercations and clashes resulted, he added.
Israeli occupation forces were summoned by settlers who were attacking Palestinians with stones. The municipality staff were forced to end their works and leave the area after being injured and left with bruises.
29 dec 2017
Qatar called on all countries to suspend diplomatic delegations to occupied Jerusalem, and adhere to UN Security Council decisions.
The statement was issued Wednesday during the meeting of ministers council held at the Emiri Diwan in Doha, chaired by Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The Minister of Justice, Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Hassan bin Lahdan al-Mohannadi, said, after the meeting, that the council “welcomed the decision of the United Nations General Assembly issued on December 21, which affirmed the invalidity of any decisions and measures aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem.”
According to Al Ray, the Qatari council called on all countries to refrain from sending diplomatic missions to occupied Jerusalem, comply with Security Council resolutions concerning the city, and to refrain from recognizing any measures contrary to these resolutions.
Qatar expressed its hope that the international community would translate this resolution into practical steps to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
On December 6, US President Donald Trump announced occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that he will transfer his country’s embassy to it, sparking anger around the world.
Up to initiative of Turkey and Yemen, the United Nations General Assembly passed, last Thursday, a resolution that considered the question of Jerusalem in the final status issue, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UN resolution also requires all states to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem pursuant to Security Council Resolution 478 of 1980.
Israeli authorities to demolish Palestinian homes, mosque in Yatta
The Israeli occupation authorities notified on Thursday the demolition of Palestinian homes, a Mosque, and a school in al-Khalil’s southern town of Yatta.
Activist Rateb Jabour said the Israeli authorities handed over nine demolition notifications targeting seven Palestinian homes owned by al-Azazma family, along with a school and a mosque in al-Bireen, north of Yatta.
The statement was issued Wednesday during the meeting of ministers council held at the Emiri Diwan in Doha, chaired by Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The Minister of Justice, Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Hassan bin Lahdan al-Mohannadi, said, after the meeting, that the council “welcomed the decision of the United Nations General Assembly issued on December 21, which affirmed the invalidity of any decisions and measures aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem.”
According to Al Ray, the Qatari council called on all countries to refrain from sending diplomatic missions to occupied Jerusalem, comply with Security Council resolutions concerning the city, and to refrain from recognizing any measures contrary to these resolutions.
Qatar expressed its hope that the international community would translate this resolution into practical steps to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
On December 6, US President Donald Trump announced occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that he will transfer his country’s embassy to it, sparking anger around the world.
Up to initiative of Turkey and Yemen, the United Nations General Assembly passed, last Thursday, a resolution that considered the question of Jerusalem in the final status issue, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UN resolution also requires all states to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem pursuant to Security Council Resolution 478 of 1980.
Israeli authorities to demolish Palestinian homes, mosque in Yatta
The Israeli occupation authorities notified on Thursday the demolition of Palestinian homes, a Mosque, and a school in al-Khalil’s southern town of Yatta.
Activist Rateb Jabour said the Israeli authorities handed over nine demolition notifications targeting seven Palestinian homes owned by al-Azazma family, along with a school and a mosque in al-Bireen, north of Yatta.
28 dec 2017
Dozens of Jewish settlers on Thursday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards under tight police guard.
According to local media sources, about 112 settlers entered the Mosque in groups through al-Maghariba Gate, while several police troops were deployed throughout the Mosque’s plateaus and among Palestinian worshipers.
During their presence at the Mosque, the settlers received information about the holy site, which they claim to be the temple mount, and some of them were seen performing quick rituals or mumbling prayers.
The Israeli police allow Jewish settlers to take guided tours at the Aqsa Mosque on a daily basis, except on Fridays and Saturdays.
According to local media sources, about 112 settlers entered the Mosque in groups through al-Maghariba Gate, while several police troops were deployed throughout the Mosque’s plateaus and among Palestinian worshipers.
During their presence at the Mosque, the settlers received information about the holy site, which they claim to be the temple mount, and some of them were seen performing quick rituals or mumbling prayers.
The Israeli police allow Jewish settlers to take guided tours at the Aqsa Mosque on a daily basis, except on Fridays and Saturdays.
27 dec 2017
Guatemalans reacted with anger and concern over their president’s decision to move his country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following suit as a result of a similar United State move, the Department of Expatriate Affairs, a branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), reported on Wednesday.
It said, according to WAFA, that several major media outlets in Guatemala have begun to focus on the angry reactions to the decision of President Jimmy Morales to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which entails recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in spite of the fact that 129 countries have voted in the United Nations General Assembly against the earlier US move and considered it a violation of international law.
Guatemala was one of nine members who voted against the UN resolution.
The Department of Expatriates Affairs said it heard from members of the Palestinian community in Guatemala and other organizations that following the decision by Morales concern was expressed among political, economic and media circles regarding the consequences of such a move on the county’s economy.
Guatemala is the main exporter of cardamom pods that are used with coffee to Arab and Islamic countries with more than $300 million dollars of exports a year. When former President Ramiro J Leon Carpio (1993-1996) made a similar decision to move his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he was forced to quickly rescind that decision when Arab and Islamic countries closed their doors to the Guatemalan market.
Former vice president of Guatemala, Eduardo Stein (2004-2008), warned of the negative consequences of the decision by Morales, who is facing impeachment on corruption charges.
He said, in a statement published in various media, that this decision will have great economic implications for Guatemalan society and will affect more than 45,000 small-scale cardamom farmers, thus affecting the country’s economy and hurting more than 400,000 Guatemalan citizens assuming that every small-scale farmer employs 10 workers.
The president of the Union of Guatemalan Exporters also warned, in an urgent letter to the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the consequences of this move on the local economy, particularly since the Islamic and Arab countries are one of the largest markets importing cardamom pods from Guatemala, and therefore any potential boycott by these countries and the closure of their markets for Guatemalan products will result in major economic shocks that will directly affect hundreds of thousands of families in Guatemala.
The Department of Expatriates called upon the Arab League to seriously consider imposing an economic boycott on any country that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the Israel or move its embassy to it.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has openly called, in its recent summit held in Turkey, on member states to resort to economic boycott as an effective measure against any state that recognizes occupied Arab Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
It said, according to WAFA, that several major media outlets in Guatemala have begun to focus on the angry reactions to the decision of President Jimmy Morales to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which entails recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in spite of the fact that 129 countries have voted in the United Nations General Assembly against the earlier US move and considered it a violation of international law.
Guatemala was one of nine members who voted against the UN resolution.
The Department of Expatriates Affairs said it heard from members of the Palestinian community in Guatemala and other organizations that following the decision by Morales concern was expressed among political, economic and media circles regarding the consequences of such a move on the county’s economy.
Guatemala is the main exporter of cardamom pods that are used with coffee to Arab and Islamic countries with more than $300 million dollars of exports a year. When former President Ramiro J Leon Carpio (1993-1996) made a similar decision to move his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he was forced to quickly rescind that decision when Arab and Islamic countries closed their doors to the Guatemalan market.
Former vice president of Guatemala, Eduardo Stein (2004-2008), warned of the negative consequences of the decision by Morales, who is facing impeachment on corruption charges.
He said, in a statement published in various media, that this decision will have great economic implications for Guatemalan society and will affect more than 45,000 small-scale cardamom farmers, thus affecting the country’s economy and hurting more than 400,000 Guatemalan citizens assuming that every small-scale farmer employs 10 workers.
The president of the Union of Guatemalan Exporters also warned, in an urgent letter to the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the consequences of this move on the local economy, particularly since the Islamic and Arab countries are one of the largest markets importing cardamom pods from Guatemala, and therefore any potential boycott by these countries and the closure of their markets for Guatemalan products will result in major economic shocks that will directly affect hundreds of thousands of families in Guatemala.
The Department of Expatriates called upon the Arab League to seriously consider imposing an economic boycott on any country that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the Israel or move its embassy to it.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has openly called, in its recent summit held in Turkey, on member states to resort to economic boycott as an effective measure against any state that recognizes occupied Arab Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
26 dec 2017
After Guatemala, Israeli occupation authorities say that another two countries will move embassies of their countries to Jerusalem.
Guatemala’s eastern neighbors, Honduras and Paraguay, are also expected to join the trickle of embassies flowing into Jerusalem.
The two Central American countries, Honduras and Guatemala, were among the seven countries that voted with the US and Israel against a UN General Assembly resolution last Thursday, which declared Trump’s declaration “null and void.”
Paraguay, according to Days of Palestine, abstained from the vote, despite having demonstrated, in the past, its particularly pro-Israel disposition.
In his announcement, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said that moving his embassy would take place only after the US led the way, but Washington’s decision is expected to encounter significant delays that could last years, potentially outliving the Trump administration.
Guatemala kept its embassy in Jerusalem until 1980, but, following Israel’s decision to annex Jerusalem in 1980 and declare the city to be its united capital, a diplomatic spat ensued with a number of countries, Guatemala among them, which chose to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in protest.
Morales made his announcement in a Facebook post on Christmas Eve, following a conversation he had held with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in the wake of Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem.
Guatemala’s eastern neighbors, Honduras and Paraguay, are also expected to join the trickle of embassies flowing into Jerusalem.
The two Central American countries, Honduras and Guatemala, were among the seven countries that voted with the US and Israel against a UN General Assembly resolution last Thursday, which declared Trump’s declaration “null and void.”
Paraguay, according to Days of Palestine, abstained from the vote, despite having demonstrated, in the past, its particularly pro-Israel disposition.
In his announcement, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said that moving his embassy would take place only after the US led the way, but Washington’s decision is expected to encounter significant delays that could last years, potentially outliving the Trump administration.
Guatemala kept its embassy in Jerusalem until 1980, but, following Israel’s decision to annex Jerusalem in 1980 and declare the city to be its united capital, a diplomatic spat ensued with a number of countries, Guatemala among them, which chose to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in protest.
Morales made his announcement in a Facebook post on Christmas Eve, following a conversation he had held with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in the wake of Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem.
Israeli settlers and members of Israeli intelligence stormed again, on Tuesday morning, the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque from Mughrabi gate.
Jerusalemite sources said, according to Al Ray, that settlers and intelligence forces stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa protected by Israeli police.
The settlers have been deliberately violating the sanctity of the courtyards, and storming it nearly every day, at 7 am, exploiting the small number of Palestinian worshipers.
Jerusalemite sources said, according to Al Ray, that settlers and intelligence forces stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa protected by Israeli police.
The settlers have been deliberately violating the sanctity of the courtyards, and storming it nearly every day, at 7 am, exploiting the small number of Palestinian worshipers.
25 dec 2017
Christian communities throughout Palestine, which follow the Western calendar, have canceled Christmas celebrations and confined themselves to religious rituals and the Midnight Mass in protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
This comes amid a marked decline in the number of Palestinians who have come to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas due to the Israeli roadblocks surrounding Bethlehem.
Hundreds of Palestinians poured in from other West Bank cities and from the Green Line to Bethlehem until Sunday evening for Christmas celebrations held under tight Palestinian security.
The first and last message at this year's Christmas ceremony is that Jerusalem is an occupied Arab city and the eternal capital of the state of Palestine.
This comes amid a marked decline in the number of Palestinians who have come to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas due to the Israeli roadblocks surrounding Bethlehem.
Hundreds of Palestinians poured in from other West Bank cities and from the Green Line to Bethlehem until Sunday evening for Christmas celebrations held under tight Palestinian security.
The first and last message at this year's Christmas ceremony is that Jerusalem is an occupied Arab city and the eternal capital of the state of Palestine.
Some 44 Jewish settlers on Monday broke into the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque during morning and afternoon rounds under tightened security measure by Israeli police.
Islamic Endowment Department in Occupied Jerusalem told Quds Press that 30 settlers were allowed to tour the courtyards of the holy site in the morning round while 14 others were permitted to access the mosque’s plazas in the afternoon.
The settlers roamed the holy shrine and performed Talmudic rituals before exiting the mosque from al-Silsila gate.
Islamic Endowment Department in Occupied Jerusalem told Quds Press that 30 settlers were allowed to tour the courtyards of the holy site in the morning round while 14 others were permitted to access the mosque’s plazas in the afternoon.
The settlers roamed the holy shrine and performed Talmudic rituals before exiting the mosque from al-Silsila gate.
23 dec 2017
Christian leaders stressed, on Saturday, the centrality of Jerusalem to all three monotheistic religions, denouncing the United States for declaring it the capital of Israel.
Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem as Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas at the site where Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been born, Christian leaders said that without peace in Jerusalem, there will not be peace anywhere in the world.
“Those who want peace in Jerusalem should know that power will not bring peace,” said former Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah. “Peace starts with Jerusalem. Power cannot impose unjust peace.”
Sabah said that Jerusalem is holy for three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.
“The holy places are governed by the status quo, which should be respected,” he added, according to WAFA.
Attallah Hanna, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, said that Christians are rejecting the US declaration on Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“This declaration is considered an insult and offensive to our people and an affront to Christians and Muslims who look at Jerusalem as the sanctuary of their national and religious beliefs and traditions.”
He considered the US decision on Jerusalem as “one of the most dangerous and worst US decisions,” adding that “we, as Christians of this land, are not goods imported from the West. No power in the world can uproot us from this land. We are part of the Arab Orient.”
Hanna vowed to protect the Christian property in Palestine, “and this way we will defeat (US President Donald) Trump’s project that aims to abolish the Palestinian cause and not only the issue of Jerusalem.”
Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran Church said that the Christian leaders wrote Trump before he announced his decision on Jerusalem, on December 6, urging him not to take any action that would prejudice the status of Jerusalem, “because it would harm peace and justice not only in Jerusalem, but the entire Middle East.”
He said that “there cannot be peace in the Middle East without peace in Jerusalem. It is time that our people gain their legitimate right in a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Father Ibrahim Filtis, a Franciscan priest, said that the US declaration has actually brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of world news and interest. “This is victory to the Palestinian cause, which is a central conflict and the mother of all conflicts.”
He said that as the community was considering whether to hold Christmas festivities or not due to the difficult political situation on the ground caused by the Trump declaration, “I believe we should rejoice this Christmas, celebrate it together and make it one of the most important holidays.”
He called for coming out on Christmas Eve, to receive the traditional Latin Patriarchate’s Christmas procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which will be headed by Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and walk with it to the Church of Nativity where the Midnight Mass will be held in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, “who everyone know that he is a man of peace.”
“What this will mean is that we are all united and that Jerusalem is for all. Without a solution to the issue of Jerusalem, there will not be peace in the world,” he said, adding, “We hope that the year 2018 will be the year for the end of the (Israeli) occupation and that the issue of Jerusalem will be resolved so that peace will prevail.”
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, accused US President Trump of stealing the Christmas festivities from the Holy Land with his declaration on Jerusalem.
Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem as Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas at the site where Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been born, Christian leaders said that without peace in Jerusalem, there will not be peace anywhere in the world.
“Those who want peace in Jerusalem should know that power will not bring peace,” said former Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah. “Peace starts with Jerusalem. Power cannot impose unjust peace.”
Sabah said that Jerusalem is holy for three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.
“The holy places are governed by the status quo, which should be respected,” he added, according to WAFA.
Attallah Hanna, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, said that Christians are rejecting the US declaration on Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“This declaration is considered an insult and offensive to our people and an affront to Christians and Muslims who look at Jerusalem as the sanctuary of their national and religious beliefs and traditions.”
He considered the US decision on Jerusalem as “one of the most dangerous and worst US decisions,” adding that “we, as Christians of this land, are not goods imported from the West. No power in the world can uproot us from this land. We are part of the Arab Orient.”
Hanna vowed to protect the Christian property in Palestine, “and this way we will defeat (US President Donald) Trump’s project that aims to abolish the Palestinian cause and not only the issue of Jerusalem.”
Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran Church said that the Christian leaders wrote Trump before he announced his decision on Jerusalem, on December 6, urging him not to take any action that would prejudice the status of Jerusalem, “because it would harm peace and justice not only in Jerusalem, but the entire Middle East.”
He said that “there cannot be peace in the Middle East without peace in Jerusalem. It is time that our people gain their legitimate right in a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Father Ibrahim Filtis, a Franciscan priest, said that the US declaration has actually brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of world news and interest. “This is victory to the Palestinian cause, which is a central conflict and the mother of all conflicts.”
He said that as the community was considering whether to hold Christmas festivities or not due to the difficult political situation on the ground caused by the Trump declaration, “I believe we should rejoice this Christmas, celebrate it together and make it one of the most important holidays.”
He called for coming out on Christmas Eve, to receive the traditional Latin Patriarchate’s Christmas procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which will be headed by Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and walk with it to the Church of Nativity where the Midnight Mass will be held in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, “who everyone know that he is a man of peace.”
“What this will mean is that we are all united and that Jerusalem is for all. Without a solution to the issue of Jerusalem, there will not be peace in the world,” he said, adding, “We hope that the year 2018 will be the year for the end of the (Israeli) occupation and that the issue of Jerusalem will be resolved so that peace will prevail.”
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, accused US President Trump of stealing the Christmas festivities from the Holy Land with his declaration on Jerusalem.
Deputy Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that his country would open an embassy in occupied East Jerusalem, a report stated.
Speaking to local media, the prime minister said that the cabinet would, next month, discuss a proposal by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for Malaysia to follow Turkey in opening an embassy in east Jerusalem to recognize the city as the Palestinian capital.
Turkey said last week it would open an embassy in east Jerusalem once the world recognizes an independent Palestinian state, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
He reiterated that said there was “serious determination” among countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so.
“Once we succeed, embassies will open in the independent Palestinian state’s capital, east Jerusalem,” he said, according to Days of Palestine.
The Malaysian Prime Minister led thousands of Malaysians in a rally, Friday, to show solidarity with Palestinians, slamming the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to “save Jerusalem” and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
In September, Najib met Trump at the White House and, last month, posted a photograph of himself with Trump on Twitter, on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Manila.
On Thursday, Malaysia joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
“Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance, but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam,” Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya, after Friday prayers.
“We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing that the United States government recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he would move US embassy there.
Najib vowed to hold weekly protests in support of Palestinians.
Speaking to local media, the prime minister said that the cabinet would, next month, discuss a proposal by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for Malaysia to follow Turkey in opening an embassy in east Jerusalem to recognize the city as the Palestinian capital.
Turkey said last week it would open an embassy in east Jerusalem once the world recognizes an independent Palestinian state, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
He reiterated that said there was “serious determination” among countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so.
“Once we succeed, embassies will open in the independent Palestinian state’s capital, east Jerusalem,” he said, according to Days of Palestine.
The Malaysian Prime Minister led thousands of Malaysians in a rally, Friday, to show solidarity with Palestinians, slamming the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to “save Jerusalem” and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
In September, Najib met Trump at the White House and, last month, posted a photograph of himself with Trump on Twitter, on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Manila.
On Thursday, Malaysia joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
“Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance, but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam,” Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya, after Friday prayers.
“We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing that the United States government recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he would move US embassy there.
Najib vowed to hold weekly protests in support of Palestinians.
22 dec 2017
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The United Nations General Assembly voted 128 to 9 on Thursday to denounce the U.S. President’s December 6th claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, despite explicit US threats against those nations by both Donald Trump and the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
The US vowed to cut aid to any nation that voted in favor of the resolution, which is likely what led to the 9 votes against and the 35 abstentions to the resolution. But how the US would be able to cut aid to nations like Jordan and Egypt, which are allies with the US in its Mid-east policy. The French ambassador to the United Nations, François Delattre, noted the impact of the U.S. claim about Jerusalem, and its impact on the Israel-Palestine peace process, saying, “It is more important than ever to rally the international community around the agreed parameters of the peace process, and this of course includes the United States, as everyone is aware of its particular role and influence on this issue.” The Israeli daily Ha’aretz criticized the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Ayalon, for his speech in advance of the vote, in which he called any nation that voted in favor of the resolution a ‘puppet’ to the Palestinian Authority. Critics noted that it is unclear how these nations could be puppets of an Authority that has no vote in the United Nations, and very little political or economic power, as well as lacking sovereignty as a nation. Haaretz noted that, while Ayalon spent the bulk of his speech |
criticizing other nations, “What he didn’t do was address the text of the resolution that was before the General Assembly, or even make the case for how Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem advanced the cause of peace.
Danon’s speech wasn’t full of inaccuracies, but it did contain a number of misleading statements.”
On December 6th, US President Donald Trump made a unilateral declaration that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel , contradicting decades of US policy, flagrantly violating international law and signed peace agreements, and discarding the Palestinian people’s basic rights.
In making that declaration, the U.S. government joined Israel as the only two countries in the world to claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. In 1947, when the United Nations recommended a partition plan for Palestine in order to create a Jewish state on what had been Palestinian land, the city of Jerusalem was recommended to remain an international city in which all would be welcome.
Following the declaration, the Israeli government has moved ahead full force with policies of displacement of Palestinian residents who have lived there hundreds, and, in some cases, thousands of years.
The move has enflamed the tensions between the U.S. and the Muslim world, especially as it came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow the travel ban to the U.S. that most legal experts say discriminates blatantly against Muslims.
Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights summarized the enormity of this decision, saying, “U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel would be a major shift in American policy and have significant implications for U.S. policy for Middle East Peace. For decades, the United States has held that this issue is one that must be mutually agreed upon by the parties, so recognizing Israel’s claims here and now ahead of an agreement is a marked shift from even the pretense of a balanced position on Jerusalem to a full backing of the Israeli position.”
Palestinians living in Jerusalem already live under martial law by the Israeli military, and face significant discrimination, underfunding of schools and services, denial of civil law and due process, and loss of land, homes and communities. Palestinians fear that this move by the U.S. administration will embolden the Israeli government and militia movement to expand their program of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the city of Jerusalem.
In response to the UN vote on Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Riyad al-Maliki said this meeting came to raise the voice of the International Community, the people around the world who took off to the streets to protest the illegal U.S stance regarding occupied Jerusalem. He added that this overwhelming majority that voted for this resolution at the Security Council have voted against all illegal attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem.
Al-Maliki thanked the Arab counties, member countries of the “Organization of Islamic Cooperation”, and the “The Non-Aligned Movement” states, for calling for this urgent session after the United States used its Veto power when Fourteen of the fifteen nations in the United Nations Security Council voted Monday reaffirming the status of the city of Jerusalem as unresolved, and challenging the U.S. administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
He added that this session came following the decision of the Cairo meeting of the Council of Arab Ministries, which was convened following a call from Palestine and Jordan, and also the special Islamic Summit which was held in Istanbul. Al-Maliki added that this meeting was not held because of “animosity towards the United States,” but to challenge its illegal decision which robs the Palestinians from their legal and historic right in occupied Jerusalem, and added that the American decision also violates the rights of the entire Arab Nation, in addition to millions of Muslims and Christians around the world.
“There can be no peace initiative that can bring real peace and stability without Jerusalem,” he added, “The United States’ decision only serves the extremist elements in the Israeli government, and instead of threatening the status of the holy city, it threatens the US credibility and status as a mediator in peace talks.”
He also stated that the U.S decision, inspired by the extremity government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatens the entire region of an endless religious war, which every country around the world should work to avoid. “The United States need to look at its current position now, even some of its closest allies did not support its decision,” al-Maliki stated, “We have seen the reactions around the world, and we have seen the results of the vote.”
Danon’s speech wasn’t full of inaccuracies, but it did contain a number of misleading statements.”
On December 6th, US President Donald Trump made a unilateral declaration that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel , contradicting decades of US policy, flagrantly violating international law and signed peace agreements, and discarding the Palestinian people’s basic rights.
In making that declaration, the U.S. government joined Israel as the only two countries in the world to claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. In 1947, when the United Nations recommended a partition plan for Palestine in order to create a Jewish state on what had been Palestinian land, the city of Jerusalem was recommended to remain an international city in which all would be welcome.
Following the declaration, the Israeli government has moved ahead full force with policies of displacement of Palestinian residents who have lived there hundreds, and, in some cases, thousands of years.
The move has enflamed the tensions between the U.S. and the Muslim world, especially as it came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow the travel ban to the U.S. that most legal experts say discriminates blatantly against Muslims.
Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights summarized the enormity of this decision, saying, “U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel would be a major shift in American policy and have significant implications for U.S. policy for Middle East Peace. For decades, the United States has held that this issue is one that must be mutually agreed upon by the parties, so recognizing Israel’s claims here and now ahead of an agreement is a marked shift from even the pretense of a balanced position on Jerusalem to a full backing of the Israeli position.”
Palestinians living in Jerusalem already live under martial law by the Israeli military, and face significant discrimination, underfunding of schools and services, denial of civil law and due process, and loss of land, homes and communities. Palestinians fear that this move by the U.S. administration will embolden the Israeli government and militia movement to expand their program of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the city of Jerusalem.
In response to the UN vote on Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Riyad al-Maliki said this meeting came to raise the voice of the International Community, the people around the world who took off to the streets to protest the illegal U.S stance regarding occupied Jerusalem. He added that this overwhelming majority that voted for this resolution at the Security Council have voted against all illegal attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem.
Al-Maliki thanked the Arab counties, member countries of the “Organization of Islamic Cooperation”, and the “The Non-Aligned Movement” states, for calling for this urgent session after the United States used its Veto power when Fourteen of the fifteen nations in the United Nations Security Council voted Monday reaffirming the status of the city of Jerusalem as unresolved, and challenging the U.S. administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
He added that this session came following the decision of the Cairo meeting of the Council of Arab Ministries, which was convened following a call from Palestine and Jordan, and also the special Islamic Summit which was held in Istanbul. Al-Maliki added that this meeting was not held because of “animosity towards the United States,” but to challenge its illegal decision which robs the Palestinians from their legal and historic right in occupied Jerusalem, and added that the American decision also violates the rights of the entire Arab Nation, in addition to millions of Muslims and Christians around the world.
“There can be no peace initiative that can bring real peace and stability without Jerusalem,” he added, “The United States’ decision only serves the extremist elements in the Israeli government, and instead of threatening the status of the holy city, it threatens the US credibility and status as a mediator in peace talks.”
He also stated that the U.S decision, inspired by the extremity government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatens the entire region of an endless religious war, which every country around the world should work to avoid. “The United States need to look at its current position now, even some of its closest allies did not support its decision,” al-Maliki stated, “We have seen the reactions around the world, and we have seen the results of the vote.”
