As expected, Wednesday's emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and shift his country's embassy to the city produced a lot of brave words but no concrete action, such as boycott of products made in Israel or by US companies doing business with Tel Aviv. The statement issued at end of the event declared Trump's decision "null and void" and "a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts." Furthermore, it declared "East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine." Which may have some moral value but of little practical help considering that the statement called on "all countries" rather the 57 OIC members to "recognise Jerusalem as its occupied capital." No wonder, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he is not impressed by the OIC statement. Only the Palestinian President Mehmoud Abbas had something solid to say as he averred, "we do not accept any role of the United States in the political process from now on because it is completely biased towards Israel." In other words, the US' role as a peace mediator is dead in the water.
Even though OIC has its permanent headquarters in Riyadh neither the Saudi monarch nor his powerful son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, attended its emergency meeting, choosing to be represented by a lowly foreign ministry official. Unfortunately, the Arab countries are riven by internal divisions. They are unwilling to antagonize Israel or jeopardize their relations with the Trump administration. In fact, various reports speak of a Gulf state's behind-the-scenes contacts with Israel for better cooperation against the common adversary, Iran. Netanyahu has opening been talking of an increasing rapprochement with "moderate Arab states."
Be that as it may, Arab governments' indifferent reaction to the US move will further alienate them from their peoples. It has caused widespread anger and dismay. Israeli leaders, of course, are gloating over what the US president has done for them but it won't bring them peace. Jerusalem is at the core of Palestinian identity and nationhood. They are not going to let the US or its regional allies gift it to Israel. Also, the move will give a new cause to extremist elements such as the IS and al Qaeda remnants and their sympathizers to fight for. It is worth remembering that at the heart of the anti-West sentiments in the Muslim world is the injustice of the Palestinian situation. In the present instance, though, several Western countries, including Britain, France, Italy and Sweden strongly condemned, at an emergency UNSC meeting, America's decision pending 'final status' talks. Trump will have only himself to blame for any escalation in violence against US interests in the region or farther afield.
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