Palestine, Egypt confer after US decision on Jerusalem

By Ali Abo Rezeg, Qais Abu Samra and Viola Fahmi

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi by phone to discuss the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

According to Palestine’s official Wafa news agency, the two men discussed the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement America would relocate its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Shortly before, Egypt had condemned the U.S. decision.

"Such unilateral moves are contrary to international resolutions and will not change Jerusalem’s legal status as a city under occupation," an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement read.

Abbas, too, blasted the move.

In a televised address broadcast only minutes after Trump’s announcement, Abbas said the move would only “encourage Israel to maintain its occupation and continue its expansionist policies”.

Trump's decision, he added, “is a declaration of Washington’s withdrawal from its sponsorship of the [Israel-Palestine] peace process".

On Wednesday, the U.S. president announced his decision -- despite widespread opposition across the Middle East -- to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jerusalem remains at the core 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.

During his election campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.