Trump’s Jerusalem move undermines US role as 'honest' peace broker: Khawaja Asif

ISTANBUL: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel undermines the United States as an honest peace broker while representing Pakistan in a summit of foreign ministers at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Leaders from several Muslim countries are participating in the OIC summit in Istanbul to give a coordinated response to US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi flayed by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Turkey to attend the summit on the invitation of the president of Turkey.

PM Abbasi will lead the Pakistani delegation which will be held later today and chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on his official twitter account said: “FM Asif underscored at OIC CFM that US recognition of Jerusalem undermines its role as an honest broker in the peace process.”

In subsequent tweet, the spokesperson cited foreign minister Khawaja Asif as saying: “US decision to recognize Jerusalem contrary to international legality.”

“FM Asif asked CFM Istanbul If UN Security unable to act, OIC should call for UN General Assembly emergency session.”

Last week, President Donald Trump recognized the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — a historic decision that overturns decades of US policy and risks triggering a fresh spasm of violence in the Middle East.

“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said from the White House. “It’s the right thing to do.”

The declaration calls into question seven decades of deliberate diplomatic ambiguity about the final status of a holy city vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.

Trump also kicked off the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making good on a campaign promise dear to evangelical Christian and right wing Jewish voters — as well as donors.

He said his decision marked the start of a “new approach” to solving the thorny conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump’s predecessors — from Bill Clinton to George Bush — made similar promises on the campaign trail, but quickly reneged upon taking office, and the burden of war and peace.

This most unlikely of presidents, who came to office with no foreign policy experience and denouncing experts, was determined to show his arrival in Washington spells the end of business as usual.