Palestinians suggest Arabs recall ambassadors from US
PA foreign minister says 'no harm in Arab states collectively recalling their ambassadors in Washington to their capitals for consultations' to 'remind them of the Arab rejection of the US embassy's transfer to Jerusalem.'
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki suggested on Thursday that Arab countries should recall their ambassadors to the United States in response to Washington moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem.
"There is no harm in Arab states collectively recalling their ambassadors in Washington to their capitals for consultations," Maliki said in live televised remarks at the Arab League in Cairo.
Maliki also said members of the Arab League, whose foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Thursday for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the issue, should summon US ambassadors "to remind them of the Arab rejection of the US embassy's transfer to Jerusalem."
Maliki argued that "the American position gives Israel the option to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people. The US is clearly biased towards Israel."
He said Arab states had agreed at previous summit meetings that they would cut ties with any country that moves its embassy to Jerusalem.
The Palestinian minister also called for international protection for the Palestinian people.
The United States opened its new Israel embassy in Jerusalem on Monday in a controversial move to the holy city from Tel Aviv that has brought wide condemnation.
It was unclear what the response would be to Maliki's suggestion. The Arab League has already condemned the relocation of the embassy, and it was not clear whether it would take any further action following the meeting.
Several Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong ties with the administration of President Donald Trump.
Most countries say the status of Jerusalem—a sacred city to Jews, Muslims and Christians—should be determined in a final peace settlement and that moving their embassies now would prejudge any such deal.
At the opening session of an extraordinary meeting, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit called for an international probe into alleged “crimes” committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians rioting along the Gaza border this week.
“We call for a credible international investigation into the crimes committed by the occupation,” Abul Gheit said.
Israeli forces killed 60 Palestinians on Monday when tens of thousands of Palestinians had violently protested near the border, while some approached the fence and sought to break through. Another two Palestinians were killed on Tuesday.
“We are facing a state of blatant aggression against international law and legitimacy which was embodied by the US embassy’s transfer in the occupying state to Jerusalem,” said Abul Gheit.
Lebanon's delegation said its foreign ministry had sent a letter to the International Criminal Court demanding it "undertake measures" to hold to account those responsible for the killings of Palestinians. It did not specify what those measures should be.
AFP and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
