CAIRO, December 11, 2017 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Monday that Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the state of Palestine, is incapable of any attempt to assassinate its identity or falsify its history.

The remarks came in a speech delivered on behalf of the President by Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Malki during an emergency session of the Arab Parliament in Cairo to discuss the repercussions of the US administration‘s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

President Abbas said that the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its intention to transfer its embassy to the occupied city is a blatant attack on the historical, legal and natural rights of the Palestinian people.

He affirmed that the decision targets the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence as well as the rights of Christians and Muslims throughout the world.

The US decision deliberately undermines efforts to achieve peace, promotes extremism and perpetuates the racist and colonial actions of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory, President Abbas said.

The president said the serious declaration, which aims at changing the legal status of Jerusalem, is illegitimate as it is a serious violation of international law, signed agreements, resolutions of international legitimacy and relevant United Nations resolutions.

It is a challenge to international will and unanimity and must be abolished immediately, he stressed.

Declaring rejection of the decision or being considered null and void is not sufficient, the President said, adding that the necessity of thwarting the decision requires bold steps that stem from the determination of the interest of Jerusalem over all interests.

A.D./M.K.