Afghan parliament calls for cutting ties with US

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

The parliament in Afghanistan on Saturday asked the government and Muslim countries around the world to suspend ties with the U.S. in a protest against President Donald Trump’s decision on Jerusalem.

After a number of members spoke vehemently against the move by the U.S. president, the lower house of the parliament adopted a unanimous resolution, condemning Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as a capital of Israel.

On Wednesday, 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.

“The warmongering proclamation against Islam by Trump requires all Islamic nations, especially Muslims in Afghanistan, to unite to defend religious values and fight the common threats,” the resolution stated.

The resolution charged the U.S. President for jeopardizing global peace and security with such a move.

It has called on the Muslim countries around the world to suspend its diplomatic and trade relations with the U.S. until the decision is reversed.

On Friday, Afghans took to the streets in thousands in various cities across the country to denounce the U.S. move.

Main protest rally was held in the downtown Kabul outside the Abdul Rahman Mosque where protesters chanted slogans against the U.S. and demanded Trump to reverse his move.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem – occupied by Israel in 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.