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Abbas calls on Arab world leaders to “defend Jerusalem” against US recognition of the city as Israel's capital, which he calls a "dangerous step"

Headline: “He warned against the danger of any American decision regarding the holy city [of Jerusalem] – the [PA] president is in contact with Arab and international bodies in order to defend Jerusalem and the holy sites”

“[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas has been in contact since last night [Dec. 2, 2017] with Arab and international bodies, including several world leaders. He briefed them on the dangers to which Jerusalem is subject, and what is required in order to defend the sites that are holy to Islam and Christianity.
In this context, the president spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. During the conversation, the president asked Saudi Arabia to urgently intervene on account of the status that it enjoys on the Arab and international levels, in order to defend Jerusalem and the sites in it that are holy to Islam and Christianity, particularly in light of the news items in the media outlets regarding American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or the transfer of the American embassy to it. His Honor [Abbas] emphasized that if this happens, it will terminate the peace process.
The president also telephoned Jordanian King Abdullah II and briefed him on the dangers to which Jerusalem is subject…
In addition, the president spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and briefed him on the situation in Jerusalem and the urgency of defending it and the sites that are holy to Islam and Christianity in light of the dangers that are encircling them…
Official [PA] Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said that President Abbas has held a series of important talks with several Arab leaders and several world leaders in order to warn about the reports on the transfer of the American embassy to occupied Jerusalem, or on [American] recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel (a matter which is serious to the same degree) [parentheses in source]…
Abu Rudeina added that the president explained to the [world] leaders… that it is necessary to act immediately in order to prevent the possibility that such a step will be taken. He said: ‘We emphasize that if this American step is taken, it will put the region onto a new track and a dangerous stage, whose consequences will be uncontrollable.’
He said that the president will continue to make efforts in the coming hours and days to thwart this dangerous step. He also emphasized that if this decision is carried out it will be unacceptable, put an end to any prospect of the political process, destroy the efforts to enter a peace process, and heighten the tensions in the region, particularly in light of the changes and winds of war blowing in the region.”

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