Sabri: Trump's decision on Jerusalem not to be implemented

CAIRO – 11 December 2017: The former Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Akrama Sabri stressed that Palestinians will not let Israel implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision of relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

In a call-in to a TV program, he called on Arab countries to "Throw sand in the face of the U.S." and to unify their statements.

Sabri praised the role of Al-Azhar and its Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb who rejected meeting with American Vice-President Mike Pence, after Washington recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israelis and Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

There has been widespread condemnation of President Trump's decision - announced on Wednesday - to reverse decades of U.S. neutrality on the status of Jerusalem which cuts to the heart of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.