PA Grand Mufti says Jerusalem embassy move an 'assault' on Muslims
Palestinian Authority officials have been highly vocal in their objection to President-elect Trump's promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
By ASHER WEBERUpdated: SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 12:05Palestinians walk past the Dome of Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, on January 13, 2017(photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Hussein stated during his Friday afternoon sermon that a move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would be an "assault" on Muslims, AFP reported.Speaking at al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, Hussein declared that “The pledge to move the embassy is not just an assault against Palestinians but against Arabs and Muslims, who will not remain silent.”Fatah Official Sultan Abu Al-Einein on transfer of US embassy to Jerusalem Palestinian authority officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, have been vocal in their objection to President-elect Trump's campaign promise to move the US embassy in Israel.Just one week ago Abbas stated that should the US embassy be moved to Jerusalem, the Middle East would enter a "crisis no one will be able to overcome," official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported Abbas as saying."We heard a lot of statements relating to moving the US embassy, which we hope are not correct and will not be implemented, but if implemented then the peace process in the Middle East, and even peace in the world, will be in a crisis we will not be able to come out from.""We say to those who said it, and this is the US President-elect Donald Trump, we invite you to visit Palestine, especially Bethlehem, next year, and that this statement is not on your agenda because any statement or position that will disrupt or alter the status of Jerusalem is a red line that we will not accept it."Some people in the past talked about this subject and did not do anything,” he added. “So we hope the US administration does not move the embassy, and to implement UN resolution 2334, which it did not object to nor did use its veto against him, and thus it had approved the resolution, which had international consensus," Abbas stated.Abbas' statements came just days after senior Fatah officials stated in an interview that the Palestinians would start a "new violent uprising" if the embassy was moved to Jerusalem."I believe that any American act of stupidity will ignite the Palestinian territories," Fatah Central Committee member Sultan Abu al-Einein told Egypt's Alghad TV on Sunday.