Arab countries denounce US Jerusalem move

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital drew reaction from Arabic countries late Wednesday.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdurrahman Al-Sani called the decision a 'death sentence for peace'.

Speaking to Doha-based Al Jazeera television, Al-Sani said that this incident, which means a serious tension raise in the Palestinian cause, concerns not only the Palestinian people but all Arabs and Muslims.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced Trump’s move on Jerusalem.

Hariri said on his Twitter account that Lebanon deplores and rejects the decision, and it is in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“[Lebanon announces] their [Palestinian’s] right to the creation of an independent state whose capital is Jerusalem,” he added.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun also reacted to the decision with a written statement from the press office.

"The U.S. president's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel threatens the peace process and the stability in the region. The Arab countries must be in unity against it."

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also deplored the Jerusalem decision of the U.S. with a written statement.

“Egypt condemns the U.S.’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move its ambassador to Jerusalem. Such unilateral steps contrary to international agreements will not change the legal status of Jerusalem as it is under occupation.”

Jordan’s government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said in a written statement that his country reject the decision.

”The international legitimacy emphasizes that the status of Jerusalem will be negotiated and agreed upon by agreement," he said, adding that the U.S. is violating international legitimate decisions with this step.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written statement which says the decision threatens the peace process in the Middle East.

It also said that the U.S. step is a clear violation of international decisions regarding Jerusalem’s occupied status and the end of the occupation.

Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced the move and warned the U.S. saying that this is a dangerous step.

The statement urged the Islamic world and international society to take action to protect the Palestinian people’s national rights and Jerusalem’s status.

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement also stressed that the decision is a violation of international decisions.

In a written statement, the movement called the U.S. authority to reverse its decision and also called its people for a support protest to Palestine in the country’s capital Tunis’ Mohamed Ali Square.

According to KUNA, the official agency of Kuwait, Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned the U.S. president about the decision’s dangerous reflections and urged him to reverse the move.

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Council also strongly condemned the decision with a written statement.

The statement emphasized that the decision would not change the Palestinian people’s rights over Jerusalem and other occupied territories, and imposing a new status on Jerusalem was not possible.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump announced his decision despite widespread international opposition to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

During his election campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.