Durrah's father praises Egypt's stance over Jerusalem

CAIRO – 15 December 2017: Jamal al-Durrah, the father of the Palestinian boy Mohammed al-Durrah, who was shot by Israeli forces in September 2000, praised Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Al-Azhar's grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb for their stance against the US President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel.

In a statement to Egypt Today on Thursday, December 14, al-Durrah said that al-Tayeb’s refusal to meet with Vice President Mike Pence will be remembered by history.

"Trump's decision is totally unacceptable. Jerusalem is an Arab city and capital. Our Intifada (uprising) will continue against Israel and will never stop," al-Durrah said.

The killing of Mohammed al-Durrah was one of the most emotional and unforgettable scenes from the Second Intifada which began on September 28, 2000 and continued until 2005.

Palestinian cameraman Talal Abu Rahma, working for the news network, France 2 captured photo's Mohammed and his father in crossfire between Israeli and Palestinian security forces.

The incident took place in the Gaza Strip on September 30, 2000 and became a major motivating factor in the continued fight against Israeli forces, ignited rage within all Arabs.

In a televised speech from the White House on December 6, Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "Through all of these years, presidents representing the United States have declined to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israeli's capital. We acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israeli's capital. This is nothing more, or less, than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It is something that has to be done," Trump stated.