CAIRO, December 10, 2017 (WAFA) – Arab Foreign Ministers demanded the United States to withdraw its decision on Jerusalem and to work with the international community to oblige Israel to implement international laws.

The ministers concluded in an emergency meeting in Cairo, which was called for to discuss the US move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem that the decision has no legal effect, but constitutes a serious violation of the international law.  

The ministers warned that attempts to change the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and its Arab identity and attack its Islamic and Christian holy sites provokes the feelings of Muslims and Christians throughout the Arab and Muslim world.

They explained, “The decision undermines efforts to achieve peace, deepens tensions, provokes anger and pushes the region into further violence, chaos, bloodshed and instability.”

The foreign ministers have urged all countries to recognize the Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital and called for a Security Council resolution that the United States‘ decision over Jerusalem contradicts the resolutions of international law.

They called to resume the tenth emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was last resumed on 15 and 16 January 2009 to consider the crisis in the Gaza strip, to take the appropriate decision in this regard.

The ministers also mandated the Arab Peace Initiative Committee to form a delegation of its members to work with the international community and international institutions to alleviate the negative consequences of the move.

They reiterated that this shift in US policy towards Jerusalem is a dangerous development, noting that the United Sates thus isolated itself as a mediator and sponsor in the peace process.

A.D/M.H