Jordan Calls Moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem ‘Catastrophic’
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(JTA) — Jordan’s government spokesman warned of “catastrophic” repercussions if President-elect Donald Trump moves the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem as he indicated he would do.
Such a move could affect relations between the United States and regional allies, including Jordan, Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press Thursday, addressing the issue publicly for the first time.
Momani, the Jordanian minister, said that moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem “will have catastrophic implications on several levels, including the regional situation.” He said countries in the region would likely “think about different things and steps they should take in order to stop this from happening.”
An embassy move would be a “red line” for Jordan, would “inflame the Islamic and Arab streets” and serve as a “gift to extremists,” he said, adding that Jordan would use all possible political and diplomatic means to try and prevent such a decision.
Jordan as an important U.S. ally in the Middle East.
Jordan is the custodian of Islam’s third holiest shrine in the Jerusalem’s east.
Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and annexed it to its capital. The Palestinians want to establish the capital of a future state in Jerusalem.
Much of the world has not recognized Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem and most countries, including the United States, maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.
A embassy move “will definitely affect the bilateral relationship between countries in the region, including Jordan, and the parties that will be related to such a decision,” he said.
Trump said during the presidential campaign that he intended to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Last month, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway was quoted as saying that moving the embassy to Jerusalem is a “very big priority” for the president-elect.
Trump’s choice for U.S. ambassador in Israel, David Friedman, has said he looks forward to working from Jerusalem.
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