US Jerusalem move slammed in African, Mideast countries

ANKARA

African and Mideast countries on Sunday continued to denounce the recent move of the U.S. on with demonstrations and statements.

Thousands of students at Khartum University carrying banners reading "Jerusalem belongs to Islam", "We are all Jerusalem" and "Coward Israel" marched to UN's office in Khartum.

The protesting students accompanied by the academics of the university left a letter titled "Our first Qiblah: Jerusalem" at the office, referring the praying direction of the Muslims.

Speaking at the end of the march, Sudanese Students' Union Chairman Musab Muhammed Osman condemned the U.S. move on Jerusalem.

"Those who want to make Jerusalem Israel's capital are putting effort into provocating Islamic Ummah. Anyone who cares about human rights, especially UN, should make the U.S. give up this decision," said Osman.

In Egypt, hundreds of students and academicians in public schools and universities denounced Trumps decision.

Students of Ain Shams University in capital Cairo chanted, “O Palestine, we are with you till the Day of Judgment" and “Why are you silent, have you forgotten Aqsa?” and held banners that read “Jerusalem will remain as Palestine’s capital” and “Jerusalem belongs to Muslims and Arabs”.

Dozens also attended protests at Cairo University and Al-Azhar University, while schools of the Education Ministry organized activities for Jerusalem.

In Tunisia, protesters including women took to the streets of Sfax city to hold a demonstration against the U.S. move on Jerusalem.

The rally organized by Regional Workers' Union saw Tunisian demonstrators display pro-Palestine banners and set fire to Israeli and the U.S. flags.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the union's Secretary General Al-Hadi bin Cuma said the Sfax residents reacted to the U.S. President Donald Trump's "racist" decision and showed a sympathy to al-Aqsa mosque and Palestine.

Cuma called on leaders of Arap and Muslim countries to boycott the U.S. and sack their envoys.

-International opposition

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros al-Rai said the move was contrary to international legitimacy, and challenges international and regional will.

“If the U.S. Embassy is moved to Jerusalem, the peace bridge between Palestine-Israel and the Arabs will be destroyed and ignite a new Intifada. This decision will also devastate the city of peace, Jerusalem,” Al-Rai said after a religious rite in north of capital Beirut.

Al-Rai also called on Donald Trump to “give up this devastating decision”.

In a statement, Justice and Development Party of Moroccan government described Trump's decision on Jerusalem "provocative and far from reality".

"This decision, which is strategically wrong, will not change the reality in the region," read the statement.

Morocco's opposition Istiqlal (Independence) Party issued a written statement and said the U.S. move would destroy the security in the restive region and trigger bloody clashes.

"In an environment where a peace process continues, this decision will cause a cycle of violence again," said the statement.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union said that the U.S. move is sabotaging hopes for a two-state solution, according to a written statement from Palestinian National Council (PNC) President Salim Zanoun’s office in Jordanian capital Amman.

The union’s message added that the efforts made for peace and dialogue between Israel and Palestine would be sustained.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital and said the U.S. Embassy would relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.