Trump's 'provocative' decision could destabilise region: PA

US President Donald Trump's "unilateral and provocative" decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will further embolden Tel Aviv's illegal policies, aggravate the tensions and destabilise the region, the Palestinian Authority warned today.
In an identical letter to the president of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, Permanent Observer Mission of Palestinian Authority called on the world body to act urgently to "avert the further destabilization of this extremely volatile situation", which poses a threat to international peace and security.
A clear message must be conveyed reaffirming the applicable laws and resolutions and opposing this unilateral and provocative decision, which will further embolden Israel's illegal policies and measures in the city and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said Feda Abdelhady-Nasser, the Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestinian Authority here.

"These developments totally contradict the ongoing efforts to create the conditions necessary for any meaningful negotiations for a peaceful solution," the letter said.
Any party undertaking such actions undermines its own role in the pursuit of peace, and those concerned with the promotion of peace cannot reasonably condone such actions, the letter warned.
"We call on all States to be firm in their rejection of these actions and in their non-recognition of this unlawful situation," Abdelhady-Nasser said.

Claiming that Trump's decision is "in contravention of Security Council resolutions and the longstanding international consensus in this regard", the Palestinian Authority said the international community must reaffirm its clear, legal position on the status of Jerusalem, affirm its rejection of all violations of that status by whomever and whenever, and demand that this decision be rescinded.

"In light of the extremely regrettable decision announced by the American President, we call on the Security Council to address this critical matter without delay and to act swiftly to uphold its responsibilities and the integrity and authority of its resolutions," the letter said.
According to the Palestinian Ambassador, the impact of such provocations cannot be underestimated, nor can the significance and sensitivity of Jerusalem to the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, and to all Arabs and Muslims worldwide.
"A comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine cannot be achieved without a just and lasting solution to the question of Jerusalem. Furthermore, the historic status quo at AlHaram Al-Sharif must be preserved as a matter of priority and urgency," it said.

Any decisions or actions that disregard these fundamental legal, political and religious dimensions of the question of Jerusalem can only aggravate already-heightened tensions and destabilise of this situation, with far-reaching implications and consequences, the letter warned.
"This includes the exacerbation of religious sensitivities that risk transforming this solvable political- territorial conflict into a never-ending religious war, which will only be exploited by religious extremists, fuelling violent radicalism and strife in the region and beyond," it said.
The Palestinian Authority called on the UN Security Council to act urgently to avert the further destabilization of this extremely volatile situation, which poses a threat to international peace and security.