U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as well as his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to the said city are disconcerting developments which will not incite peace in the region.
The decision to recognise Jerusalem – home to three sacred sites of Abrahamic religions – as Israel’s capital not only violates the United Nations Resolutions that foresee the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the establishment of a Palestinian State based on 1967 borders, but is also a clear violation of international law.
The decision disregards the history of the region as well as the social realities on the ground. Moreover, it has a potential to destabilise the already delicate balance in the region, causing irreparable damage to the peace process.
It should not be forgotten that the repercussions of such adverse developments in the Middle East will be on a global scale and not solely regional. In view of the aforementioned, we invite the US administration – one of the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council – to act in accordance with UN resolutions and to review this unfortunate decision.