Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Thursday condemned the decision of the United States to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and termed the decision “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 & deep disappointment. It has caused deep anger & 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 added that the action is a violation of international laws and UN resolutions, as well as the publicly state policy of previous US presidents.

The PML-N president added that he shares the anger and outrage of the people of Pakistan.

“To now 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 stability, 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 early administrations and sets the most deplorable example of a breach of promises,” said Nawaz.

Nawaz 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 by the PML-N statement.

He said the current time is of great challenge to the Ummah. “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 law and based on universally recognised principles or we want to revert to the law of oppressors.”

The declaration by the United States 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 Christian and right-wing Jewish voters – as well as donors.

He said his decision marked the start of a “new approach” to solving the thorny conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is in London owing to his medical treatment, met former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his residence in London.

Sources said that the country’s political situation came under discussion during the meeting.

Ishaq Dar avoided the media and cameras after he reached the house of Nawaz Sharif.

The former minister is not appearing before the court in assets reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Published in Daily Times, December 8^th 2017.