25 dec 2017
After a United Nations vote against American President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the US has announced that it is planning to cut $285m from funds it would provide to the UN 2018-2019 budget.
This an implementation of a threat made by Trump, last week, that financial repercussions would follow if the UN General Assembly voted in favour of a resolution demanding that Washington retract its move regarding Jerusalem.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” Trump told reporters at the White House, ahead of the vote.
In an official statement a few days after the vote was passed last Thursday, by a decisive 128-9, with 35 abstentions declaring Trump’s declaration “null and void,” the US delegation to the UN announced its decision to slash its funds, but also maintained that it wanted to make changes at the international body.
“While we are pleased with the results of this year’s budget negotiations, you can be sure we’ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN’s efficiency while protecting our interests,” said Washington’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, according to Days of Palestine.
“Among a host of other successes, the United States negotiated a reduction of over $285 million off the 2016-2017 final budget,” she said.
“This is not like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they are doing … People of the united states, people that live here, our great citizens that love this country, they are tired of this country being taken advantage of and we are not going to be taken advantage of any longer,” Trump said.
“This historic reduction in spending—in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN—is a big step in the right direction.”
This an implementation of a threat made by Trump, last week, that financial repercussions would follow if the UN General Assembly voted in favour of a resolution demanding that Washington retract its move regarding Jerusalem.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” Trump told reporters at the White House, ahead of the vote.
In an official statement a few days after the vote was passed last Thursday, by a decisive 128-9, with 35 abstentions declaring Trump’s declaration “null and void,” the US delegation to the UN announced its decision to slash its funds, but also maintained that it wanted to make changes at the international body.
“While we are pleased with the results of this year’s budget negotiations, you can be sure we’ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN’s efficiency while protecting our interests,” said Washington’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, according to Days of Palestine.
“Among a host of other successes, the United States negotiated a reduction of over $285 million off the 2016-2017 final budget,” she said.
“This is not like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they are doing … People of the united states, people that live here, our great citizens that love this country, they are tired of this country being taken advantage of and we are not going to be taken advantage of any longer,” Trump said.
“This historic reduction in spending—in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN—is a big step in the right direction.”
Christian communities throughout Palestine, which follow the Western calendar, have canceled Christmas celebrations and confined themselves to religious rituals and the Midnight Mass in protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
This comes amid a marked decline in the number of Palestinians who have come to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas due to the Israeli roadblocks surrounding Bethlehem.
Hundreds of Palestinians poured in from other West Bank cities and from the Green Line to Bethlehem until Sunday evening for Christmas celebrations held under tight Palestinian security.
The first and last message at this year's Christmas ceremony is that Jerusalem is an occupied Arab city and the eternal capital of the state of Palestine.
This comes amid a marked decline in the number of Palestinians who have come to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas due to the Israeli roadblocks surrounding Bethlehem.
Hundreds of Palestinians poured in from other West Bank cities and from the Green Line to Bethlehem until Sunday evening for Christmas celebrations held under tight Palestinian security.
The first and last message at this year's Christmas ceremony is that Jerusalem is an occupied Arab city and the eternal capital of the state of Palestine.
23 dec 2017
Christian leaders stressed, on Saturday, the centrality of Jerusalem to all three monotheistic religions, denouncing the United States for declaring it the capital of Israel.
Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem as Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas at the site where Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been born, Christian leaders said that without peace in Jerusalem, there will not be peace anywhere in the world.
“Those who want peace in Jerusalem should know that power will not bring peace,” said former Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah. “Peace starts with Jerusalem. Power cannot impose unjust peace.”
Sabah said that Jerusalem is holy for three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.
“The holy places are governed by the status quo, which should be respected,” he added, according to WAFA.
Attallah Hanna, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, said that Christians are rejecting the US declaration on Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“This declaration is considered an insult and offensive to our people and an affront to Christians and Muslims who look at Jerusalem as the sanctuary of their national and religious beliefs and traditions.”
He considered the US decision on Jerusalem as “one of the most dangerous and worst US decisions,” adding that “we, as Christians of this land, are not goods imported from the West. No power in the world can uproot us from this land. We are part of the Arab Orient.”
Hanna vowed to protect the Christian property in Palestine, “and this way we will defeat (US President Donald) Trump’s project that aims to abolish the Palestinian cause and not only the issue of Jerusalem.”
Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran Church said that the Christian leaders wrote Trump before he announced his decision on Jerusalem, on December 6, urging him not to take any action that would prejudice the status of Jerusalem, “because it would harm peace and justice not only in Jerusalem, but the entire Middle East.”
He said that “there cannot be peace in the Middle East without peace in Jerusalem. It is time that our people gain their legitimate right in a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Father Ibrahim Filtis, a Franciscan priest, said that the US declaration has actually brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of world news and interest. “This is victory to the Palestinian cause, which is a central conflict and the mother of all conflicts.”
He said that as the community was considering whether to hold Christmas festivities or not due to the difficult political situation on the ground caused by the Trump declaration, “I believe we should rejoice this Christmas, celebrate it together and make it one of the most important holidays.”
He called for coming out on Christmas Eve, to receive the traditional Latin Patriarchate’s Christmas procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which will be headed by Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and walk with it to the Church of Nativity where the Midnight Mass will be held in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, “who everyone know that he is a man of peace.”
“What this will mean is that we are all united and that Jerusalem is for all. Without a solution to the issue of Jerusalem, there will not be peace in the world,” he said, adding, “We hope that the year 2018 will be the year for the end of the (Israeli) occupation and that the issue of Jerusalem will be resolved so that peace will prevail.”
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, accused US President Trump of stealing the Christmas festivities from the Holy Land with his declaration on Jerusalem.
Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem as Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas at the site where Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been born, Christian leaders said that without peace in Jerusalem, there will not be peace anywhere in the world.
“Those who want peace in Jerusalem should know that power will not bring peace,” said former Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah. “Peace starts with Jerusalem. Power cannot impose unjust peace.”
Sabah said that Jerusalem is holy for three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.
“The holy places are governed by the status quo, which should be respected,” he added, according to WAFA.
Attallah Hanna, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, said that Christians are rejecting the US declaration on Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“This declaration is considered an insult and offensive to our people and an affront to Christians and Muslims who look at Jerusalem as the sanctuary of their national and religious beliefs and traditions.”
He considered the US decision on Jerusalem as “one of the most dangerous and worst US decisions,” adding that “we, as Christians of this land, are not goods imported from the West. No power in the world can uproot us from this land. We are part of the Arab Orient.”
Hanna vowed to protect the Christian property in Palestine, “and this way we will defeat (US President Donald) Trump’s project that aims to abolish the Palestinian cause and not only the issue of Jerusalem.”
Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran Church said that the Christian leaders wrote Trump before he announced his decision on Jerusalem, on December 6, urging him not to take any action that would prejudice the status of Jerusalem, “because it would harm peace and justice not only in Jerusalem, but the entire Middle East.”
He said that “there cannot be peace in the Middle East without peace in Jerusalem. It is time that our people gain their legitimate right in a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Father Ibrahim Filtis, a Franciscan priest, said that the US declaration has actually brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of world news and interest. “This is victory to the Palestinian cause, which is a central conflict and the mother of all conflicts.”
He said that as the community was considering whether to hold Christmas festivities or not due to the difficult political situation on the ground caused by the Trump declaration, “I believe we should rejoice this Christmas, celebrate it together and make it one of the most important holidays.”
He called for coming out on Christmas Eve, to receive the traditional Latin Patriarchate’s Christmas procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which will be headed by Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and walk with it to the Church of Nativity where the Midnight Mass will be held in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, “who everyone know that he is a man of peace.”
“What this will mean is that we are all united and that Jerusalem is for all. Without a solution to the issue of Jerusalem, there will not be peace in the world,” he said, adding, “We hope that the year 2018 will be the year for the end of the (Israeli) occupation and that the issue of Jerusalem will be resolved so that peace will prevail.”
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, accused US President Trump of stealing the Christmas festivities from the Holy Land with his declaration on Jerusalem.
Deputy Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that his country would open an embassy in occupied East Jerusalem, a report stated.
Speaking to local media, the prime minister said that the cabinet would, next month, discuss a proposal by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for Malaysia to follow Turkey in opening an embassy in east Jerusalem to recognize the city as the Palestinian capital.
Turkey said last week it would open an embassy in east Jerusalem once the world recognizes an independent Palestinian state, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
He reiterated that said there was “serious determination” among countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so.
“Once we succeed, embassies will open in the independent Palestinian state’s capital, east Jerusalem,” he said, according to Days of Palestine.
The Malaysian Prime Minister led thousands of Malaysians in a rally, Friday, to show solidarity with Palestinians, slamming the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to “save Jerusalem” and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
In September, Najib met Trump at the White House and, last month, posted a photograph of himself with Trump on Twitter, on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Manila.
On Thursday, Malaysia joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
“Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance, but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam,” Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya, after Friday prayers.
“We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing that the United States government recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he would move US embassy there.
Najib vowed to hold weekly protests in support of Palestinians.
Speaking to local media, the prime minister said that the cabinet would, next month, discuss a proposal by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for Malaysia to follow Turkey in opening an embassy in east Jerusalem to recognize the city as the Palestinian capital.
Turkey said last week it would open an embassy in east Jerusalem once the world recognizes an independent Palestinian state, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
He reiterated that said there was “serious determination” among countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so.
“Once we succeed, embassies will open in the independent Palestinian state’s capital, east Jerusalem,” he said, according to Days of Palestine.
The Malaysian Prime Minister led thousands of Malaysians in a rally, Friday, to show solidarity with Palestinians, slamming the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to “save Jerusalem” and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
In September, Najib met Trump at the White House and, last month, posted a photograph of himself with Trump on Twitter, on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Manila.
On Thursday, Malaysia joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
“Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance, but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam,” Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya, after Friday prayers.
“We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing that the United States government recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he would move US embassy there.
Najib vowed to hold weekly protests in support of Palestinians.
22 dec 2017
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday led thousands of Muslims in a rally to show solidarity with Palestinians, slamming the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to save Jerusalem and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
"Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam," Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya after Friday prayers.
"We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine," he said.
Malaysia on Thursday joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that the US embassy would be moved to the holy city.
Najib told the crowd that Malaysia will do all it can to save Jerusalem and that he will not be cowed by the US nor by his close ties with President Donald Trump.
"Yes, I have visited the White House and yes, Trump is a good acquaintance but I will not pawn the sanctity of Islam," Najib said to loud cheers at the protest outside a mosque in the government capital of Putrajaya after Friday prayers.
"We are firm in our stand. We support the formation of a Palestine that is free and sovereign. We demand a Palestine with dignity and pride. We want East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine," he said.
Malaysia on Thursday joined more than 120 countries voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, ignoring a threat by Trump to cut off financial aid to countries voting against his move.
Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of US policy by announcing the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that the US embassy would be moved to the holy city.
Hamas Movement has called on the Palestinians, regardless of their partisan affiliations, to take to the streets following Friday’s noon prayers in support of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
A congregational prayer is expected to be held by Hamas supporters near the northern entrance to Bethlehem before heading for flashpoints with the Israeli occupation army.
Hamas in Tulkarem also launched calls for a mass participation in a march set to kick off following noon prayers on Friday at the New Mosque.
A statement by Hamas urged the Palestinians to escalate protests across all provinces and villages and to stand on guard to Israeli attacks on the demonstrators.
At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 3,500 others injured by the Israeli army since Thursday December 7 in fierce clashes that rocked the occupied Palestinian territories shortly after the U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
A congregational prayer is expected to be held by Hamas supporters near the northern entrance to Bethlehem before heading for flashpoints with the Israeli occupation army.
Hamas in Tulkarem also launched calls for a mass participation in a march set to kick off following noon prayers on Friday at the New Mosque.
A statement by Hamas urged the Palestinians to escalate protests across all provinces and villages and to stand on guard to Israeli attacks on the demonstrators.
At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 3,500 others injured by the Israeli army since Thursday December 7 in fierce clashes that rocked the occupied Palestinian territories shortly after the U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
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The United Nations General Assembly voted 128 to 9 on Thursday to denounce the U.S. President’s December 6th claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, despite explicit US threats against those nations by both Donald Trump and the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
The US vowed to cut aid to any nation that voted in favor of the resolution, which is likely what led to the 9 votes against and the 35 abstentions to the resolution. But how the US would be able to cut aid to nations like Jordan and Egypt, which are allies with the US in its Mid-east policy. The French ambassador to the United Nations, François Delattre, noted the impact of the U.S. claim about Jerusalem, and its impact on the Israel-Palestine peace process, saying, “It is more important than ever to rally the international community around the agreed parameters of the peace process, and this of course includes the United States, as everyone is aware of its particular role and influence on this issue.” The Israeli daily Ha’aretz criticized the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Ayalon, for his speech in advance of the vote, in which he called any nation that voted in favor of the resolution a ‘puppet’ to the Palestinian Authority. Critics noted that it is unclear how these nations could be puppets of an Authority that has no vote in the United Nations, and very little political or economic power, as well as lacking sovereignty as a nation. |
Haaretz noted that, while Ayalon spent the bulk of his speech criticizing other nations, “What he didn’t do was address the text of the resolution that was before the General Assembly, or even make the case for how Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem advanced the cause of peace.
Danon’s speech wasn’t full of inaccuracies, but it did contain a number of misleading statements.”
On December 6th, US President Donald Trump made a unilateral declaration that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel , contradicting decades of US policy, flagrantly violating international law and signed peace agreements, and discarding the Palestinian people’s basic rights.
In making that declaration, the U.S. government joined Israel as the only two countries in the world to claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. In 1947, when the United Nations recommended a partition plan for Palestine in order to create a Jewish state on what had been Palestinian land, the city of Jerusalem was recommended to remain an international city in which all would be welcome.
Following the declaration, the Israeli government has moved ahead full force with policies of displacement of Palestinian residents who have lived there hundreds, and, in some cases, thousands of years.
The move has enflamed the tensions between the U.S. and the Muslim world, especially as it came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow the travel ban to the U.S. that most legal experts say discriminates blatantly against Muslims.
Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights summarized the enormity of this decision, saying, “U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel would be a major shift in American policy and have significant implications for U.S. policy for Middle East Peace. For decades, the United States has held that this issue is one that must be mutually agreed upon by the parties, so recognizing Israel’s claims here and now ahead of an agreement is a marked shift from even the pretense of a balanced position on Jerusalem to a full backing of the Israeli position.”
Palestinians living in Jerusalem already live under martial law by the Israeli military, and face significant discrimination, underfunding of schools and services, denial of civil law and due process, and loss of land, homes and communities. Palestinians fear that this move by the U.S. administration will embolden the Israeli government and militia movement to expand their program of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the city of Jerusalem.
In response to the UN vote on Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Riyad al-Maliki said this meeting came to raise the voice of the International Community, the people around the world who took off to the streets to protest the illegal U.S stance regarding occupied Jerusalem. He added that this overwhelming majority that voted for this resolution at the Security Council have voted against all illegal attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem.
Al-Maliki thanked the Arab counties, member countries of the “Organization of Islamic Cooperation”, and the “The Non-Aligned Movement” states, for calling for this urgent session after the United States used its Veto power when Fourteen of the fifteen nations in the United Nations Security Council voted Monday reaffirming the status of the city of Jerusalem as unresolved, and challenging the U.S. administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
He added that this session came following the decision of the Cairo meeting of the Council of Arab Ministries, which was convened following a call from Palestine and Jordan, and also the special Islamic Summit which was held in Istanbul. Al-Maliki added that this meeting was not held because of “animosity towards the United States,” but to challenge its illegal decision which robs the Palestinians from their legal and historic right in occupied Jerusalem, and added that the American decision also violates the rights of the entire Arab Nation, in addition to millions of Muslims and Christians around the world.
“There can be no peace initiative that can bring real peace and stability without Jerusalem,” he added, “The United States’ decision only serves the extremist elements in the Israeli government, and instead of threatening the status of the holy city, it threatens the US credibility and status as a mediator in peace talks.”
He also stated that the U.S decision, inspired by the extremity government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatens the entire region of an endless religious war, which every country around the world should work to avoid. “The United States need to look at its current position now, even some of its closest allies did not support its decision,” al-Maliki stated, “We have seen the reactions around the world, and we have seen the results of the vote.”
Danon’s speech wasn’t full of inaccuracies, but it did contain a number of misleading statements.”
On December 6th, US President Donald Trump made a unilateral declaration that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel , contradicting decades of US policy, flagrantly violating international law and signed peace agreements, and discarding the Palestinian people’s basic rights.
In making that declaration, the U.S. government joined Israel as the only two countries in the world to claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. In 1947, when the United Nations recommended a partition plan for Palestine in order to create a Jewish state on what had been Palestinian land, the city of Jerusalem was recommended to remain an international city in which all would be welcome.
Following the declaration, the Israeli government has moved ahead full force with policies of displacement of Palestinian residents who have lived there hundreds, and, in some cases, thousands of years.
The move has enflamed the tensions between the U.S. and the Muslim world, especially as it came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow the travel ban to the U.S. that most legal experts say discriminates blatantly against Muslims.
Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights summarized the enormity of this decision, saying, “U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel would be a major shift in American policy and have significant implications for U.S. policy for Middle East Peace. For decades, the United States has held that this issue is one that must be mutually agreed upon by the parties, so recognizing Israel’s claims here and now ahead of an agreement is a marked shift from even the pretense of a balanced position on Jerusalem to a full backing of the Israeli position.”
Palestinians living in Jerusalem already live under martial law by the Israeli military, and face significant discrimination, underfunding of schools and services, denial of civil law and due process, and loss of land, homes and communities. Palestinians fear that this move by the U.S. administration will embolden the Israeli government and militia movement to expand their program of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the city of Jerusalem.
In response to the UN vote on Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Riyad al-Maliki said this meeting came to raise the voice of the International Community, the people around the world who took off to the streets to protest the illegal U.S stance regarding occupied Jerusalem. He added that this overwhelming majority that voted for this resolution at the Security Council have voted against all illegal attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem.
Al-Maliki thanked the Arab counties, member countries of the “Organization of Islamic Cooperation”, and the “The Non-Aligned Movement” states, for calling for this urgent session after the United States used its Veto power when Fourteen of the fifteen nations in the United Nations Security Council voted Monday reaffirming the status of the city of Jerusalem as unresolved, and challenging the U.S. administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
He added that this session came following the decision of the Cairo meeting of the Council of Arab Ministries, which was convened following a call from Palestine and Jordan, and also the special Islamic Summit which was held in Istanbul. Al-Maliki added that this meeting was not held because of “animosity towards the United States,” but to challenge its illegal decision which robs the Palestinians from their legal and historic right in occupied Jerusalem, and added that the American decision also violates the rights of the entire Arab Nation, in addition to millions of Muslims and Christians around the world.
“There can be no peace initiative that can bring real peace and stability without Jerusalem,” he added, “The United States’ decision only serves the extremist elements in the Israeli government, and instead of threatening the status of the holy city, it threatens the US credibility and status as a mediator in peace talks.”
He also stated that the U.S decision, inspired by the extremity government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatens the entire region of an endless religious war, which every country around the world should work to avoid. “The United States need to look at its current position now, even some of its closest allies did not support its decision,” al-Maliki stated, “We have seen the reactions around the world, and we have seen the results of the vote.”
21 dec 2017
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Kuwait’s National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously approved six recommendations submitted by lawmakers for action against the US administration’s recognition of Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and its threat to relocate its embassy to the holy city.
According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the six recommendations express the position of Kuwaitis that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine.
The first recommendation demands urgent formation of a parliamentary committee to support the Palestinian people.
The second one calls for continued government action through its embassies to denounce the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy to it.
The third recommendation urges the government to necessarily begin executive procedures for full diplomatic recognition of the state of Palestine and to support its full representation in different international organizations.
The fourth has called for launching and supervising reconstruction and relief efforts to support the steadfastness of the Palestinians in Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian territories.
The fifth recommendation highlights the need for continuing the efforts by the National Assembly and its members to expel Israel from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other international and regional organizations.
The sixth recommendation calls on the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information, Education and other ministries and government institutions to utilize effective methods and means to raise the public awareness about the Palestinian cause and Israel’s violations and crimes.
During the discussion, the MPs hailed the stand adopted by the government of Kuwait on the US Jerusalem decision as well as the position of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah during the recent Islamic Summit in Istanbul.
The lawmakers stressed the centrality and importance of Jerusalem in the Islamic world and condemned the US decision as a violation of the international law.
Their speeches highlighted that Kuwait would remain a strong supporter for the Palestinian struggle against the occupation and would continue its role in support of the Palestinian cause.
According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the six recommendations express the position of Kuwaitis that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine.
The first recommendation demands urgent formation of a parliamentary committee to support the Palestinian people.
The second one calls for continued government action through its embassies to denounce the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy to it.
The third recommendation urges the government to necessarily begin executive procedures for full diplomatic recognition of the state of Palestine and to support its full representation in different international organizations.
The fourth has called for launching and supervising reconstruction and relief efforts to support the steadfastness of the Palestinians in Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian territories.
The fifth recommendation highlights the need for continuing the efforts by the National Assembly and its members to expel Israel from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other international and regional organizations.
The sixth recommendation calls on the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information, Education and other ministries and government institutions to utilize effective methods and means to raise the public awareness about the Palestinian cause and Israel’s violations and crimes.
During the discussion, the MPs hailed the stand adopted by the government of Kuwait on the US Jerusalem decision as well as the position of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah during the recent Islamic Summit in Istanbul.
The lawmakers stressed the centrality and importance of Jerusalem in the Islamic world and condemned the US decision as a violation of the international law.
Their speeches highlighted that Kuwait would remain a strong supporter for the Palestinian struggle against the occupation and would continue its role in support of the Palestinian cause.
Hamas Politican Bureau Chairman, Ismail Haneyya, discussed with the Turkish Ambassador in Palestine, Ghoran Türkoğlu, the latest developments on the issue of Jerusalem in light of the recent American decision, along with the file of the reconciliation and its developments.
Haneyya lauded the Turkish position towards the issue of Jerusalem, the success of the recent Islamic summit in Turkey, and the stands of the Turkish President, Tecep Tyyip Erdogan on Jerusalem.
He also expressed his thanks to the Turkish people and activists for the rallies staged in support of Jerusalem and Palestine, stressing the importance of continuing these official and popular efforts to foil the American decision.
Haneyya stressed Hamas’s steadfast position on reconciliation and reviewed the steps taken by Hamas to achieve it. He also affirmed that Hamas is adherent to reconciliation in light of the issue of Jerusalem, which he said requires unity.
He also emphasized the need to lift the punishments imposed on the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip.
Haneyya discussed with the Turkish ambassador the developments of Turkish projects in the Gaza Strip, especially the Turkish Hospital , the residential project and the solar energy project.
For his part, Turkoglu reiterated Turkey’s firm position towards Palestine and Jerusalem in particular, and asserted that his country stands by Gaza under the siege.
He added that underway efforts will be upheld until the U.S. withdraws its decision.
The Turkish ambassador hailed Hamas’s efforts in favor of national reconciliation, vowing that Turkey will keep up its assistance to Gaza and its people.
Haneyya lauded the Turkish position towards the issue of Jerusalem, the success of the recent Islamic summit in Turkey, and the stands of the Turkish President, Tecep Tyyip Erdogan on Jerusalem.
He also expressed his thanks to the Turkish people and activists for the rallies staged in support of Jerusalem and Palestine, stressing the importance of continuing these official and popular efforts to foil the American decision.
Haneyya stressed Hamas’s steadfast position on reconciliation and reviewed the steps taken by Hamas to achieve it. He also affirmed that Hamas is adherent to reconciliation in light of the issue of Jerusalem, which he said requires unity.
He also emphasized the need to lift the punishments imposed on the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip.
Haneyya discussed with the Turkish ambassador the developments of Turkish projects in the Gaza Strip, especially the Turkish Hospital , the residential project and the solar energy project.
For his part, Turkoglu reiterated Turkey’s firm position towards Palestine and Jerusalem in particular, and asserted that his country stands by Gaza under the siege.
He added that underway efforts will be upheld until the U.S. withdraws its decision.
The Turkish ambassador hailed Hamas’s efforts in favor of national reconciliation, vowing that Turkey will keep up its assistance to Gaza and its people.
A high-level delegation from the Hamas Movement led by member of its political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk met on Wednesday with Lebanese premier Saad al-Hariri in Beirut and discussed with him different issues of mutual interest, especially with regard Occupied Jerusalem.
In press remarks, Abu Marzouk stated that he found a firm Lebanese position towards Jerusalem and against the Israeli capital recognition that were made recently by US president Donald Trump.
He added that the Palestinian people, at this critical stage, need every support from Lebanon and other Arab states as well as from the world’s free people to thwart all American plans targeting their national cause.
The delegation also discussed with Hariri the Palestinian reconciliation process and highlighted the efforts that had been made by Hamas on the ground to end the division.
In press remarks, Abu Marzouk stated that he found a firm Lebanese position towards Jerusalem and against the Israeli capital recognition that were made recently by US president Donald Trump.
He added that the Palestinian people, at this critical stage, need every support from Lebanon and other Arab states as well as from the world’s free people to thwart all American plans targeting their national cause.
The delegation also discussed with Hariri the Palestinian reconciliation process and highlighted the efforts that had been made by Hamas on the ground to end the division.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas met in Riyadh on Wednesday with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and discussed with him different issues of mutual interest.
According to Palestinian news outlets, Abbas briefed the Saudi Monarch on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena and the contacts he had made recently with other heads of state to discuss the US recognition of Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Abbas also valued the Saudi positions in support of the Palestinian people and their national cause.
The meeting was followed by a luncheon and prolonged talks between the two leaders and officials from both sides.
King Salman reassured the Palestinian leader that Saudi Arabia continues to support the right of Palestinians to an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
According to Palestinian news outlets, Abbas briefed the Saudi Monarch on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena and the contacts he had made recently with other heads of state to discuss the US recognition of Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Abbas also valued the Saudi positions in support of the Palestinian people and their national cause.
The meeting was followed by a luncheon and prolonged talks between the two leaders and officials from both sides.
King Salman reassured the Palestinian leader that Saudi Arabia continues to support the right of Palestinians to an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
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