RAMALLAH, December 5, 2017 (WAFA) - Commenting on US President Donald Trump‘s decision to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem, PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned the move.

"Today US President Donald Trump called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab leaders informing them of his decision to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem," she said in a statement.

Ashrawi added: "Despite repeated words of advice and caution from all concerned and from global leaders, President Trump seems to be hell-bent on annihilating the chances of peace and destroying the stability and security of the entire region and beyond, provoking violence and playing into the hands of extremists and terrorists around the world. He is willfully committing an act of the utmost folly which is not only illegal but also designed to inflame religious and spiritual sentiments, and raise the specter of sectarianism and religious strife. It simultaneously emboldens the most aggressive, hardline and warmongering elements in Israel to guarantee the destruction of the two-state solution.

"As a global power, the US would do well not to encourage violence, chaos and extremism. Rather than becoming complicit in Israel‘s lawlessness and impunity, it should promote justice, fairness, democracy, and peace. We call on President Trump to rescind this disastrous decision before it is too late.

"The enormity and severity of the situation should also send a strong message to the international community to curb such behavior whose ramifications and consequences cannot be contained and to step in to rescue the chances of peace by preventing a new cycle of chaos and violence."

T.R/M.K.