US Calling Jerusalem Israel’s Capital Is ‘Naked Aggression,’ Muslim Nations Say
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WASHINGTON (JTA) — Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would be a “naked aggression” that would cause the United States to lose “its mediating role and turn it into a biased party to the conflict,” the Organization of Islamic States said.
The statement by the group, representing 57 countries, came as President Trump delayed a waiver on moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem that presidents have routinely issued since 1995 when Congress passed a law mandating the move.
The resolution issued Monday after an emergency meeting at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia “warns against recognizing Al-Quds [Jerusalem] as the capital of Israel, the occupying power, or establishing or transferring any diplomatic mission to Al-Quds, given that this is considered a naked aggression not only on the Arab and Islamic Ummah [community], but also on the rights of Muslims and Christians alike, and on the Palestinian people’s national rights, including their right to self-determination.”
Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would cause “the United States to lose the legal and moral ground and its mediating role, and turning it into a biased party to the conflict,” the resolution said.
Trump’s deadline for issuing the waiver, which according to the law must be issued every six months, was Friday Dec. 1. On Monday evening, the White House said it would be delayed.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise of moving the embassy, walked it back after assuming the presidency. Recent reports say that he was unhappy with his first waiver issued in June and wants to go ahead and recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as early as Wednesday.
Palestinian officials have said that moving the embassy would scuttle attempts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Kushner, in a rare public appearance this weekend, said he was optimistic about restarting the talks.
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