European states issue joint statement against US
During an emergency meeting on Friday, UN Security Council
members widely condemned Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the
capital of Israeli regime, saying the unprecedented move may trigger clashes
across the region.
Trump’s announcement drew strong oppositions from across the world and sparked Palestinian ‘day of rage’ protests where scores were hurt and at least one was killed in clashes with Israeli troops.
Amid the protests and at the request of eight of the 15 United Nations Security Council members - Britain, France, Sweden, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy, Senegal and Egypt, an emergency meeting was held on Friday during which Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Italy in a joint statement condemned US decision on relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the move was "unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”
"We stand ready to contribute to all credible efforts to restart the peace process, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, leading to a two-State solution,” the statement said. "We encourage the US Administration to now bring forward detailed proposals for an Israel-Palestinian settlement.”
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said he was "particularly concerned about the potential risk of a violent escalation" in response to the US move.
Riyad Mansour, the ambassador and permanent observer of Palestine at the UN, said the Trump administration has violated "Jerusalem's legal, political and historic status and the Palestinian peoples' rights and legitimate national aspirations".
"The extremely regrettable announcement ... has heightened tensions and risks the complete destabilization of this volatile situation," Mansour said.
Matthew Rycroft, the UN ambassador representing the UK, said his country has no plans to move the British embassy from Tel Aviv.
Francois Delattre, French ambassador to the UN, said France's position is for a two-state solution agreed upon by both parties involved.
"We clearly disagree with the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Olof Skoog, Sweden's UN ambassador, said at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, rejected the criticisms, saying the UN was biased against Israel.
Iran has also condemned the US decision, calling it a "blatant violation of international resolutions,” and warned against a new Palestinian Intifada (uprising).
