Donald Trump told to drop ‘illegal’ Jerusalem plan as Arab countries consider sanctions
DONALD Trump has been told to abandon his plans to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the Arab League.
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Foreign Ministers from Arab countries have branded the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem as a "dangerous violation of international law”.
The Arab League said: “The decision has no legal effect… it deepens tension, ignites anger and threatens to plunge region into more violence and chaos.”
The Foreign Minister of Lebanon Gebran Bassil called for the nations to consider economic sanctions against the US.
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Mr Bassil said: “Pre-emptive measures must be taken ... beginning with diplomatic measures, then political, then economic and financial sanctions.”
The League vowed to pressure the United Nations to reject Trump’s move in a resolution from the Security Council.
President Trump took the decision to formally recognise Jerusalem solely as the capital of Israel by moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
The decision has no legal effect
The move was a reversal of the long-standing US policy.
Past administrations had called for the status of the city to be decided in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
Critics have claimed the move jeopardises the US’s role as an independent broker in negotiations.
The US President’s decision was greeted by international condemnation as his fellow world leaders spoke out against the move.
Violence as Palestinians, Muslims worldwide hold 'Day of Rage' over Jerusalem
Fri, December 8, 2017Thousands of Palestinians protest in a 'day of rage' in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and in East Jerusalem against President Donald Trump's recognition of the ancient city as Israel's capital
Israeli forces scuffle with Palestinians at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City
A “Day of Rage” was called in Palestine with protests held across the world, including the UK.
Rockets fired towards Israeli settlements from Gaza were met with retaliatory airstrikes.
Militants fired at least three rockets towards Israeli towns from Gaza during the protests which were held after US President Donald Trump formally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Israel’s military said in a statement: “IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft targeted four facilities belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in the Gaza Strip: Two weapons manufacturing sites, a weapons warehouse, a military compound.”
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A Hamas source confirmed the two men killed in the strikes belonged to the group which urged Palestinians to keep up the confrontation with Israeli forces.
Two other Palestinians were killed and scores injured on Friday during clashes with Israeli troops on the Gaza border and the West Bank.
The status of Jerusalem has been one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be its capital. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of a future independent state of their own.
