LONDON: Palestinians on Wednesday warned that a bloody third 鈥渋ntifada鈥� could follow a decision by US President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, branded Trump鈥檚 policy shift as a 鈥渂reach of international conventions鈥� which both trampled on the rights of Palestinians and put Israel at heightened risk of attack.
He told Arab News: 鈥淧eople are going to go into the streets, not only in Palestine but in all capitals across the Arab world. The situation is very risky.鈥�
By changing America鈥檚 stance toward Jerusalem, Trump 鈥渋s opening a can of worms that cannot be controlled.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 decision sparked anger across the Middle East and beyond as global leaders warned about the destabilizing repercussions across borders.
Since fielding a phone call from Donald Trump on Tuesday night, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has been in close contact with regional allies, the UN and the EU, demanding they condemn the move.
Hassassian said that the US policy shift discredited America鈥檚 role as a peace broker between Israelis and Palestinians.
鈥淲e cannot look at the US as a mediator anymore,鈥� he told Arab News, adding that the new policy showed an undeniable bias toward the Jewish state. Moreover, Hassassian cautioned that altering the status of Jerusalem would spark ire far beyond the borders of Palestine.
鈥淭he issue of Jerusalem will carry the weight of a religious conflict, now,鈥� Hassassian said. 鈥�1.5 billion Muslims are not going to accept the monopoly of Judaism over the (holy city).鈥�
The American president he said, 鈥渋s putting the region into real risk.鈥�
The international community considers East Jerusalem to be Palestinian territory illegally occupied by Israel since the 1967 war.
Trump鈥檚 statement, Hassassian said, constituted a break with UN resolutions and international norms.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, agreed. 鈥淭he decision that Donald Trump has made is a flagrant violation of international law and disregards legitimate rights and claims of the Palestinian people,鈥� he told Arab News.
He said that the status of Jerusalem was an unequivocal red line for Palestinians. 鈥淭here is no possible peaceful resolution to the conflict that does not acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.鈥�
Condemnation of Trump鈥檚 new policy was echoed by Omar El-Hamdoon president of the Muslim Association of Britain, who said it was 鈥渘ot just a step in the wrong direction but it鈥檚 almost like pouring oil onto the fire.鈥�
Hassassian said the Palestinian leadership was appealing to the international community to stand against Trump鈥檚 intransigence.
Jamal agreed: 鈥淚t is time for the international community to take robust action if it wishes to support a just resolution,鈥� he said. 鈥淒onald Trump鈥檚 decision needs to be 鈥� condemned by all governments, including the UK government that say they support international law.鈥�