RAMALLAH, December 4, 2017 (WAFA) – United States recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a provocation that will destroy the chances for peace and inflame the whole region, Hanan Ashrawi, member of Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said on Sunday.

Responding to statements and leaks that the US administration is considering recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating its embassy to Jerusalem, Ashrawi strongly cautioned against what she described as a dangerous development.

“If US President Donald Trump announces such a decision on Wednesday, he will be sending a message to the world that the language of power and diktat (not that of justice and legality) will prevail,” said Ashrawi in a statement.

“Should [the US] take such an irresponsible decision, the US will become complicit in Israel‘s illegal annexation of Jerusalem, and it will destroy the chances of establishing a sovereign and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital - an essential component of peace,” Ashrawi remarked.

She added, “It will also ensure the exclusion of any Palestinian participation in negotiations and render any talks superfluous and meaningless… such a move will provoke a sectarian dimension and transform the conflict into a religious confrontation whose outcome cannot be predicted or contained for a long time.”

The PLO official said the measure, if adopted, “would generate more extremism, violence and instability in an already volatile region. It will play into the hands of extremist and radical elements and will provide them with a ready-made excuse to pursue a destructive course of action. As such, it will unleash forces that cannot be contained, inflaming sentiments and generating tensions and instability throughout the region and beyond.” 

She added that the legal and political status of East Jerusalem defines it as occupied territory, and Israel‘s annexation of the city is a violation of international law, conventions, signed agreements, and terms of reference of the peace process.

Ashrawi said the measure would also alter the status of Jerusalem and would disqualify the US from having any role in peacemaking. “It will give Israel a free hand to persist in the total annexation and isolation of Palestinian Jerusalem and enable it to continue the deliberate historical, political, cultural, demographic, and geographic transformation of the occupied city, erasing its Palestinian presence and identity.”

“If the American administration wishes to resolve the issue of Jerusalem, the only way to do so would be to recognize two states- the State of Palestine and Israel- with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

M.N./M.K.