ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Thursday condemned the decision by the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and termed the decision as ‘disappointing’.
“The decision of US administration to recognise the occupied city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has come to us as a shock and deep disappointment. It has caused deep anger and anguish in Pakistan as well as in the entire Muslim world,” said a statement released by the PML-N.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – a historic decision that overturns decades of US policy and risks triggering a fresh spasm of violence in the Middle East.
Nawaz Sharif further went on to say that the action was a violation of international laws and UN resolutions, and was against the policy of previous US presidents. The PML-N president added that he shares the anger and outrage of the people of Pakistan.
“To hand over the holy city of Jerusalem known historically for over millenniums as Al Quds Al Sharif is to add salt to the wounds of the people who have been suffering untold miseries for 70 years,” Nawaz said referring to the Palestinian people.
The statement added that “the world is passing through increasing instability which has spawned discrimination, prejudice and intolerance for a great power which is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council”.
“It is also a clear negation of solemn assurances made by earlier administrations and sets the most deplorable example of a breach of promises,” said Nawaz. He further supported the call by Turkey’s Erdogan for an emergency session of OIC to consider the grave situation emerging from the US decision.
“I will call upon the members of UN Security Council to engage in urgent consultations to decide on steps to reverse the negative impact of this action,” Nawaz was further quoted as saying in the PML-N statement.
“Our response will not only have an impact on the destiny of the people of Palestine but on the future of United Nations as well. We have to decide whether we want to live in a world governed by laws and based on universally recognised principles or we want to revert to the law of oppressors,” he said.
The declaration by the US calls into question seven decades of deliberate diplomatic ambiguity about the final status of a holy city vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. Trump also kicked off the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making good on a campaign promise dear to evangelical Christians and right-wing Jewish voters – as well as donors.
He said that his decision marked the start of a new approach to solving the thorny conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump’s predecessors – from Bill Clinton to George Bush – made similar promises on the campaign trail but quickly reneged upon taking office.
