US decision on Jerusalem tests UN's effectiveness

The Parliamentary Division of the Federal National Council, FNC, has called for serious work on an international parliamentary level to stand up against the United States, US, decision regarding Jerusalem, where it decided to recognise the occupied city of Jerusalem as a capital of Israel and to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city.

The delegation made this statement during a speech by its head, Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Zaabi, Second Deputy Speaker of the FNC, on behalf of Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the FNC, during its participation in the Arab Parliament Leaders’ Summit at the extraordinary session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, AIPU, to discuss the latest developments in the situation in Jerusalem, which was held today at the headquarters of the House of Representatives in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

The UAE MP highlighted the necessity of working and co-ordinating with regional and international parliamentary unions, especially the European Parliament, as well as the European Union, EU, countries that rejected the US decision, to support and lead an international action to stand up against it, and the necessity of encouraging the EU to perform its role as an effective and influential partner in the Middle East peace process. Jerusalem is the core of the peace process, which represents the key to stability, as without it the region and the world will be threatened by the absence of peace, security and stability, it added.

The statement further added that Arab parliaments have a historic responsibility to face the consequences of this decision, through effective and calculated political action and plans.

During the speech, Al Zaabi stressed that the unilateral nature of the US decision regarding Jerusalem clashes with legitimacy and international conventions and contradicts the will of the rest of the international community, which was clearly highlighted in the Security Council meeting held on Friday, 8th December, 2017, as well as the stance of the EU’s ministers of foreign affairs during their meeting in Brussels on 11th December, 2017.

He stated that the American decision provokes the feelings of Arabs and Muslims. The wise leadership in the UAE stressed that this comes at a time when the world seems to be in the most need of wisdom, co-operation, co-existence and tolerance in facing the culture of hatred, instigation, intolerance, extremism and terrorism.

Al Zaabi clarified that this American decision is a test for the United Nations to prove the effectiveness of its decisions and the limits of its legal responsibility in preserving international peace and security. It is also a test for Arabs to move effectively through the parliamentary and official diplomacies and speak one political discourse, reflecting a unified stance in defence of Jerusalem.

He said that the decision also represents a stark challenge and violation of the foundations and principles of the international law, and goes against the UN Security Council resolutions. It affirmed non-interference in the status of the city of Jerusalem and the solid historic rights of the Palestinian people living there especially the Security Council Resolution Nos. 465, 476, and 478 for the year 1980, and Resolution No. 2334 for the year 2016.

"We gather today amid very complicated and sensitive political circumstances and challenges, as the American decision regarding the city of Jerusalem is a priority for all of us due to the stature of the city and its deep historical and religious symbolism. That is why, it was necessary for us to gather as representatives of the Arab people, who reject and condemn this American step, which would obliterate the Islamic and Arabic identity of Jerusalem, which goes against all the related international conventions, codes, and decisions," Al Zaabi added.