Arab League holds emergency meeting over Jerusalem

CAIRO – 9 December 2017: The Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday, discussing the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

On Wednesday, Jordan and Palestine requested an emergency meeting between Arab foreign ministers to discuss measures what action will be taken to deal with the U.S. decision in terms to defending occupied Jerusalem and its legal, historical and religious status.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izid Bih, arrived on Saturday morning at Cairo International Airport to take part in the meeting.

Earlier Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the American administration's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Gheit warned against the “dangerous magnitude of the negative consequences” of this decision, suggesting that the decision will stand in the way of peace, illustrating that the U.S. does not properly understand the situation.

The Secretary-General said in a Wednesday press statement, “Jerusalem has its special status in the hearts of the Arab Christian or Muslims,” describing the move as a futile attempt to manipulate the cities fate.