Arabs and Muslims are responding with both actions and reactions to the decision of the Donald Trump administration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. While public protests have engulfed countries as close as Jordan and as far away as Morocco and Indonesia, political leaders are searching for actions they can take to respond to the unexpected large public protests and demands for action.
A hurriedly organized summit of the three Arab entities who signed agreements with Israel (Egypt, Palestine and Jordan) was held in Cairo on Dec. 11. Jordan, which holds the chair of the Arab summits, is also calling for an emergency Arab summit. The three leaders might also call on US Vice President Mike Pence not to come to the region. Pence is scheduled to visit the region Dec. 18-20. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Coptic Church Pope Tawadros II and Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb have all said that they will boycott the visiting US vice president.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a press conference Dec. 9 that Jordan will be calling for an extradordinary summit meeting, but did not specify a date.
In Jordan, the lower house of parliament has decided unanimously to carry out a comprehensive review of the various agreements signed with Israel. Khalil Attiyeh, the deputy speaker of the Jordanian parliament, initiated the bill to review Jordan’s agreements with Israel. He told Al-Monitor that the parliament had to act big. “When the issue is as big as Jerusalem, the reaction has to be at the same level.”
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