Tunisia and Morocco summon U.S. ambassadors over Jerusalem

CAIRO - 8 December 2017: Tunisia and Morocco summoned U.S. ambassadors to express their anger over the U.S.’ decision to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi summoned his country’s U.S. ambassador to inform him of Tunisia's condemnation of the U.S. administration's decision to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Tunisian media reported Friday.

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita summoned their ambassadors from the U.S., UK, Russia, China and France on Wednesday over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to relocate the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The foreign minister took the move upon directives from King Mohammed VI in the presence of Palestinian Ambassador in Rabat Jamal al-Shobaki, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during a televised speech from the White House. Trump’s decision was met by a barrage of criticism and condemnations from many Arab and world leaders, while protests took places in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and different parts of the Arab world.

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine called for staging protests against Trump’s decision to be a third intifada (uprising).

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has filed a complaint in the UN Security Council (UNSC) against Trump on Thursday, Sky News Arabia reported.

After a four-hour meeting between the Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas to discuss Trump’s decision on Thursday, both factions announced their total rejection of the U.S. President‘s decision, stating that such a decision is an attack on Palestinian people.

They agreed to continue the process of inter-Palestinian reconciliation and put an end to the crises in the Gaza Strip. They reiterated that they will mobilize more people to reject this decision, saying that the best response is uniting the Palestinian people in politics and on the ground.