Skip to main content

PA Mufti warns of “disasters of wars, anarchy, and instability” in region following US embassy move to Jerusalem, urges Palestinians and Muslims to “sacrifice all that is dear to them”

Headline: “The [PA] grand mufti warns against the severe consequences of transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem”
         “[PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, preacher at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, [and Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council Chairman] Sheikh Muhammad Hussein warned against the severity of the American administration’s decision on transferring its embassy to occupied Jerusalem, which was set for Nakba Day (i.e., “the catastrophe,” Palestinian term for the establishment of the State of Israel. The US embassy is set to open on May 14, the anniversary of Israel’s declaration of independence; Palestinians mark Nakba Day on May 15). He said that this testifies to the insolence that those who are biased in favor of the occupation have reached, while they continue to do an injustice to our people and its holy sites and to blatantly harm the Palestinian cause in an attempt to eliminate it. The mufti emphasized that this arbitrary behavior will have severe consequences that the American administration will bear.
He explained that the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem, if it is carried out, will not be an attack on the Palestinians alone, but rather a blatant attack on the Arabs and Muslims throughout the world, …and that it will not serve peace and security in the region, but rather bring upon it disasters of wars, anarchy, and instability.
Sheikh Hussein added that the residents of Jerusalem and all of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims will not submit to this blatant attack, and will sacrifice all that is dear to them in order to confront the American stubbornness.”
Click to view bulletin

Palestinians commemorate Nakba Day on May 15, the day after the establishment of Israel. On May 15, 1948, combined forces from Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq joined local Arab forces in an attempt to eradicate the newly established State of Israel. The Nakba (Arabic = catastrophe) refers to the establishment of Israel, and the subsequent loss of the war, including the killing and displacement of Arab civilians that occurred during the war.

US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
On Feb. 23, 2018, the US State Department announced that the US embassy will open in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. The date is the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.

»   View analysis citing this item

RelatedView all ❯