PA Mufti warns of “disasters of wars,” if US embassy is moved
PA Mufti warns of "disasters of wars, anarchy,
and instability" in region,
US embassy move to Jerusalem is
"blatant attack on Arabs and Muslims"
Mufti implicitly encourages violence and Martyrdom,
urging Palestinians and Muslims to
"sacrifice all that is dear to them"
By Nan Jacques Zilberdik
After the announcement by the US State Department last week that the US embassy will be moved to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, the Palestinian Authority's Grand Mufti warned that such a move will lead to "disasters of wars" in the entire world, as it is perceived as an "attack" on all Muslims:"He [the Mufti] explained that the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem, if it is carried out, will not be an attack on the Palestinians alone, but rather a blatant attack on the Arabs and Muslims throughout the world, ...and that it will not serve peace and security in the region, but rather bring upon it disasters of wars, anarchy, and instability."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 26, 2018]
He further implicitly encouraged Palestinians and Muslims to use violence and seek Martyrdom, stating that they will "sacrifice all that is dear to them":"[The Mufti] added that the residents of Jerusalem and all of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims will not submit to this blatant attack, and will sacrifice all that is dear to them in order to confront the American stubbornness."
The PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the embassy move "a direct aggression towards our people," regarding it as "a provocative declaration and a blow to the sensibilities of the Arabs and Muslims." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 26, 2018]
Palestinian Media Watch reported yesterday that the Palestinian National Council (i.e., the legislative body of the PLO) declared the US announcement a "blatant defiance towards the international, Arab, and Islamic will." The following are longer excerpts of the reports mentioned above:
Headline: "The [PA] grand mufti warns against the severe consequences of transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem"
"[PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, preacher at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, [and Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council Chairman] Sheikh Muhammad Hussein warned against the severity of the American administration's decision on transferring its embassy to occupied Jerusalem, which was set for Nakba Day (i.e., "the catastrophe," Palestinian term for the establishment of the State of Israel. The US embassy is set to open on May 14, the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence; Palestinians mark Nakba Day on May 15). He said that this testifies to the insolence that those who are biased in favor of the occupation have reached, while they continue to do an injustice to our people and its holy sites and to blatantly harm the Palestinian cause in an attempt to eliminate it. The mufti emphasized that this arbitrary behavior will have severe consequences that the American administration will bear.
He explained that the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem, if it is carried out, will not be an attack on the Palestinians alone, but rather a blatant attack on the Arabs and Muslims throughout the world, ...and that it will not serve peace and security in the region, but rather bring upon it disasters of wars, anarchy, and instability.
Sheikh Hussein added that the residents of Jerusalem and all of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims will not submit to this blatant attack, and will sacrifice all that is dear to them in order to confront the American stubbornness."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 26, 2018]
Headline: "The [PA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates: The transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem is direct aggression towards our people and its rights"
"In a statement yesterday [Feb. 25, 2018], the [PA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the recent American announcement regarding the transfer of the American embassy to occupied Jerusalem. It viewed this as a provocative declaration and a blow to the sensibilities of the Arabs and Muslims."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 26, 2018]
Palestinians commemorate Nakba Day on May 15, the day after the establishment of Israel. On May 15, 1948, combined forces from Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq joined local Arab forces in an attempt to eradicate the newly established State of Israel. The Nakba (Arabic = catastrophe) refers to the establishment of Israel, and the subsequent loss of the war, including the killing and displacement of Arab civilians that occurred during the war.US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
On Feb. 23, 2018, the US State Department announced that the US embassy will open in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. The date is the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.