Allawi warns against moving American embassy to Jerusalem

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi urged the world on Wednesday to reject the transfer of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

“We voice our full solidarity with the stance of the Palestinian people and leadership, as well as Arab, Islamic and world countries, as we all reject the transfer of the headquarters of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem,” Allawi said in a Wednesday statement, a copy of which was obtained by Alsumaria News.

“The U.S. Administration should better work on bringing about comprehensive and fair peace in the Middle East, instead of adopting such provocative steps,” the statement read.

“This decision, if taken, would hinder the Middle East peace negotiations,” Allawi warned, calling on the United Nations and the international community to reject the U.S. plan.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi rejected plans by U.S. President Donald Trump to transfer his country’s embassy to Jerusalem.

In his weekly press conference, Abadi said “the cabinet rejects the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem and warns against consequences of that matter on regional and world stability.

According to Abadi, the U.S. decision represents “an abuse of the rights of Palestinians, the Arab and Islamic Worlds and the rest of faiths”.

U.S. officials were recently quoted saying that Trump would deliver a speech on Wednesday recognizing Jerusalem, disputed by the Palestinians and Israelis as their capital, as the capital of Israel, before relocating his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to there as confirmation of that recognition.

Trump’s plans drew objection from the European Union and the Arab League, which prompted him to delay the declaration.