Abbas’ advisor: "Jerusalem is only ours… We were in Jerusalem more than 5,000 years"

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Jerusalem is only ours, only ours. They [the Americans] know it. It is a strange thing that a state that is only a little older than 200 years. takes a stand toward a city that is 5,000 years old. Where was America when Jerusalem was built, that it should decide whose capital it is? And where was Israel when Jerusalem was built? Jerusalem was here before America and before Israel and before Europe and before this entire world. We were in Jerusalem more than 5,000 years ago, and we have not left it... America, which - as they say - was born yesterday, wants to decide the fate of a city whose age is greater than history." Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.