Palestinian leaders said Wednesday they will not be “blackmailed” after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid worth more than $300 million annually, his latest provocative move that could upturn years of careful diplomacy. Relations between Trump’s White House and the Palestinians were already tense after the US president’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s […]
Jerusalem
Saudi king, Turkey PM discuss Jerusalem status at talks
Saudi King Salman and Turkey’s premier on Wednesday discussed boosting ties and the status of Jerusalem, in a first high-level meeting since the US controversially recognised the city as Israel’s capital. Firm US ally Riyadh and NATO member Ankara have both slammed President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to upend decades of careful policy by […]
Israel to name new Jerusalem station after Trump
Israel is to name a planned new railway station close to Judaism’s hallowed Western Wall in annexed east Jerusalem after US President Donald Trump, the transport minister has said. Trump has been lauded by the Jewish state — and sparked international condemnation — by breaking with years of US policy to recognise the holy city […]
Israel PM says Guatemala embassy move ‘just the start
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hailed Guatemala’s decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, saying other nations would also follow Washington’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital. “Other countries will recognise Jerusalem and announce the relocation of their embassies. A second country did it and I repeat it: there will be others, […]
Palestinians call Guatemala’s Jerusalem embassy move ‘shameful’
The Palestinian foreign ministry on Monday slammed as “shameful” Guatemala’s decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem after the United States recognised the city as the capital of Israel. “It’s a shameful and illegal act that goes totally against the wishes of church leaders in Jerusalem” and violates a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution condemning […]
Pope seeks peace in Jerusalem, highlights plight of war-scarred children
Pope Francis on Monday called for peace in Jerusalem in his traditional Christmas address and highlighted the plight of children scarred by conflict, after urging the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics not to ignore migrants. Addressing tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Vatican to hear the pontiff’s fifth “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City […]
UNGA on Jerusalem’s status: How each country voted
LAHORE: The United Nations (UN) on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a motion rejecting United States President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. 128 countries, saying “No” to Trump’s decision”, voted in favour of the motion. Nine countries voted against the motion, 35 abstained and another 21 did not participate in the vote. #UNGA […]
Palestinian president rejects US peace plan
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Friday that his people would “no longer accept” any peace plan proposed by the United States following Washington’s decision to unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Trump administration has been preparing a plan in secret which is expected to be presented to the two sides in 2018. […]
Despite ‘threats’, Pakistan’s support for Palestine remains unwavering, says Maleeha Lodhi
LAHORE: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi on Thursday said that Pakistan’s support to the Palestinian people remains unwavering “despite the threats that we have received in recent days.” Addressing at UNGA, Lodhi said that Pakistan co-sponsored this resolution and will vote in favour of this landmark resolution to reject the US decision. “Pakistan […]
Trump Jerusalem recognition harms Christmas: Catholic leader
The Catholic church’s top official in Jerusalem on Wednesday criticised Donald Trump’s controversial recognition of the city as Israel’s capital, saying it damaged Christmas celebrations and led to hundreds cancelling trips. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, an apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said “dozens” of groups had pulled out of planned visits after being […]