Saudi cabinet urges US to reverse Israel embassy move

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reiterated its condemnation of last week’s decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The renewed Saudi condemnation was articulated at a cabinet meeting chaired by Saudi King Mohammad bin Salman at Riyadh’s Al-Yamama Royal Palace.

After the meeting, Saudi Information Minister Awwad Saleh al-Awwad told the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that cabinet members had stressed what they described as “the international consensus” against the controversial U.S. move.

“The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation of this regrettable move by the U.S. administration, which violates the historical Palestinian right to Jerusalem, which is enshrined in international resolutions,” SPA quoted al-Awwad as saying.

He went on to urge the U.S. administration to reverse the decision as soon as possible “with a view to granting the Palestinians their legitimate rights”.

Tension has mounted in the Palestinian territories in the wake of Trump’s decision last Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move Washington’s Israel embassy to the city.

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 Palestinian state.

In April, Russia officially recognized West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, expressing hope that the city's eastern half might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestine.

Notably, in last week's announcement, Trump stressed that his administration had yet to take a position on "the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem".