Turkey's Erdogan Threatens to Cut Ties With Israel Over U.S. Embassy Decision: Jerusalem 'Red Line' for Muslims
Possible U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital this week has prompted backlash from across the Middle East
Haaretz, Reuters and Noa Landau Dec 05, 2017 12:09 PM
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U.S. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, during a news conference at the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Michael Reynolds/Bloomberg
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital "is a red line for Muslims."
He warned that if such a decision is made it "will result in Turkey's cutting diplomatic ties with Israel." Erdogan's comments echo a growing sentiment in the Arab world and international community who are warning the U.S. against the potential fallout from the move.
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The Turkish premier's announcement follows comments by the diplomatic adviser of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who said that the Palestinian leadership would "stop contacts" with the U.S. if Trump follows through with the move.
>> Trump, take note: How Jerusalem went from hosting 16 embassies to zero >>
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U.S. officials have said a possible recognition might come this week, prompting Arab and Muslim backlash.
Abbas' aide Majdi Khaldi said on Tuesday the U.S. would lose credibility as a Mideast mediator if Trump goes ahead with the move.
Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official, had even harsher words.
"So Mr. Trump came up with the slogan of the 'deal of the century,' or 'the mother of all transactions', as Saddam Hussein would say. But the mother of all the deals dies here on the rocks in Jerusalem if he says tomorrow that he recognizes a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Shaath told reporters. "It removes any chance he will play a role in an agreement. There is no deal that begins with the destruction of the two-state solution."
According to the Palestinians, they will turn to other countries in the world to serve as mediators in the negotiations should Trump proceed with such a decision on Jeruasalem, like China, Russia or European countries.
"Everyone conveyed a message that it would destroy any chance for peace. We do not want to reach violence, but we cannot prevent violence. ISIS is recruiting people to defend Jerusalem," said Shaath.
>> Trump delays final decision on moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, White House says <<
Saudi Arabia also spoke out against the move, saying it hopes the U.S. will not recognize Jerusalem and warned such a decision would have serious implications, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.
"The recognition will have very serious implications and will be provocative to all Muslims' feelings," SPA said quoting an unnamed official source at the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
"The United States administration should take into account the negative implications of such a move and the Kingdom's hope not to take such a decision as this will affect the U.S. ability to continue its attempt of reaching a just solution for the Palestinian cause," the statement added.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador in Washington Prince Khalid bin Salman said any U.S. announcement on the status of Jerusalem before a final settlement is reached in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would hurt the peace process and heighten regional tensions.
"The kingdom's policy - has been - and remains in support of the Palestinian people, and this has been communicated to the U.S. administration," Prince Khalid said in a statement.
Twenty-five former Israeli ambassadors, academics and peace activists on Monday expressed their opposition to the move in a letter to Trump's Mideast peace envoy Jason Greenblatt.
The letter was written on behalf of The Policy Working Group, an organization of Israeli activists with diplomatic, academic, political and media backgrounds, including former Israeli diplomats such as Ilan Baruch, Alon Liel and Elie Barnavi. The group wrote Greenblatt that "we are deeply concerned by recent reports that President Trump is seriously considering the announcement of his decision to unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel."
>>Trump, take note: How Jerusalem went from hosting 16 embassies to zero
"The status of Jerusalem, the city that houses the holy sites of the three monotheistic religions, lies at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and must be determined within the context of resolving that conflict," the letter continued.
East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, is home to major Muslim, Christian and Jewish holy sites. The Palestinians seek it as a future capital, while Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital.
Arab League representatives were to discuss the Jerusalem controversy on Tuesday. The organization said on Monday that Trump's possible recognition would constitute "naked aggression" against Muslims and Arabs.
Haaretz
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https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/turkey/1.826883
, you chp voters newer lived under pressure. No army anymore who is acting when you scream, or supreme court who is closing a party with evidence from google. You will get use to it
