Harapan condemns US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital city

Federal opposition Pakatan Harapan today condemned United States president Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

Speaking to reporters after handing over their memorandum of protest to the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said the decision was regrettable and should be condemned by all Muslims, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

"We stated our condemnation and it is clear that America under Donald Trump, is a catalyst for violence and war.

"Therefore, we also hope that the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will convene an urgent meeting, as well as the European Union and the United Nations to find a solution (to the conflict)," Mohamad told reporters.

As for the Malaysian government, Mohamad said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should immediately convene an emergency parliament session to discuss the issue.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, meanwhile, urged Najib to reiterate Malaysia's stand in his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly tomorrow.

"As the ruling party, the rakyat's eyes will be on whether Umno has the courage to make a stand.

"Because typically any resolutions made at the Umno General Assembly has an impact on the government's policy, and in this case, the foreign policy," he said.

Harapan's joint statement was signed by Mohamad, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Saifuddin, and DAP national chairperson Tan Kok Wai.

Trump reversed decades of US policy on Wednesday by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, disrupting the Middle East peace efforts and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies alike.

The status of Jerusalem - home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions - is one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Separately, a coalition of 51 Muslim NGOs under the Malaysian Save Al-Quds banner also submitted their memorandum at the embassy this morning.

"The recognition of Jerusalem as a capital of Israel will destroy any semblance of peace in the region and from now on, you may see the two-state solution or any solutions previously deemed possible between Palestine and Israel will be utterly irrelevant.

"Indeed we perceive the declaration as provocative, and it displays arrogance towards Muslims and the entire international community," said the group in their memorandum.

Present was Amanah advisor Ahmad Awang who, however, told reporters that his participation in this afternoon's protest by Umno and PAS would be to support the Muslim NGOs.

- Mkini