Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki on Sunday asked the heads of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to host emergency meetings over US President Donald Trump possibly recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Over the weekend, a number of US media outlets reported that Trump is going to deliver a speech on Wednesday, in which he will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
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“Maliki called for holding meetings of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the level of permanent representatives to discuss the imminent dangers facing Jerusalem and the holy sites,” the official Palestinian Authority news site Wafa reported.
Maliki made the appeal for the emergency meetings in phone calls on Sunday with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit and Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen, according to Wafa.
The Israeli government considers all of Jerusalem its capital, while the Palestinians hope that east Jerusalem will be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Maliki added that such emergency meetings would discuss “necessary steps regarding this irresponsible American measure.”
Earlier on Sunday, Mahmoud Habash, an adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said that the peace process will be over if Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“The peace process will have died completely if the US makes such a move,” Habash told The Jerusalem Post in a phone call. “There would be no meaning to the peace process.”
The Trump administration reportedly is drafting a plan to revive peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The final status of Jerusalem has historically been considered one of the most complicated issues in the peace process.
Speaking of possible next steps the Palestinian leadership would take if Trump declares Jerusalem Israel’s capital, Habash stated that “all options are on the table.”
On Saturday, Abbas called Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron and a number a number of Arab leaders including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman to discuss Trump possibly declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
According to Habash, Abbas will continue to make phone calls to international leaders on Sunday.