Countries react to US recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
(VOVWORLD) - The international community, except for Israel, condemned US President Donald Trump’s announcement of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and his decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Photo:Xinhua/VNA) |
The UN Security Council will call an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the US’s decision. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the two-state solution is the only plan for the Israel-Palestine situation. Guterres promised to do his best to bring the two nations back to meaningful negotiations.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and British Prime Minister Theresa May, said they disagree with US President Trump’s unilateral movement, saying it will damage the Middle-East peace progress. The Turkish Foreign Ministry called the US’s movement “irresponsible” and urged Washington to think again. Pope Francis in Rome urged that Jerusalem’s status quo be maintained.
Islamic leaders unanimously condemned the US’s decision. Palestine called Trump’s action unacceptable and said it destroyed the Middle-East peace efforts. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the US move violated international regulations and Jerusalem is indispensible to Palestine.
The Arab League will convene an extraordinary meeting in Cairo on Friday and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will meet next Wednesday in Istanbul to announce the stance of 57 member countries on the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.