Abbas meets King Abdullah to discuss possible US Embassy move
The Palestinian leadership launched a campaign two weeks ago to appeal to the world against the possible relocation of the US Embassy.
By ADAM RASGONUpdated: JANUARY 23, 2017 10:40Mahmoud Abbas (right) to King Abdullah: We are one nation in two states(photo credit: REUTERS)
PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah met in Amman on Sunday to coordinate policy over the possible relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.“Abbas and King Abdullah II discussed the possible ramifications of moving the American Embassy to occupied Jerusalem and agreed to take a number of measures if the embassy is relocated,” the official Palestinian Authority news site Wafa reported, without clarifying what such measures would be.Abbas also told a group of reporters: “What is taking placing regarding the [possible] relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem is important to the king and us, and we must coordinate.”The Palestinian leadership launched a campaign two weeks ago to appeal to the world against the possible relocation.Abbas sent letters to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and many other world leaders, warning that the relocation would have “disastrous” consequences and spell the “destruction of the peace process.”Trump said Thursday he plans to follow through with his campaign promise.“Of course I remember what I told you about Jerusalem. Of course I didn’t forget. And you know I’m not a person who breaks promises,” Trump told Israel Hayom.Abbas added that his visit to Jordan was “necessary” because Abdullah will soon visit Washington and Moscow.Jordan considers itself the “guardian of Jerusalem’s holy sites,” but also takes particular concern for other matters pertaining to the city.Abbas also said he hopes the US administration “will stop talking about moving the embassy to Jerusalem... and become involved in serious negotiations between us and the Israelis to reach a political resolution.”
Israel, for its part, has encouraged the US president to move the embassy to Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he thought such a move would be “great” during a trip to Azerbaijan in December.