France, Jordan discuss fallout from US’ Jerusalem move

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - France and Jordan are awaiting U.S. input before pressing ahead with any peace initiatives following President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

French President Emmanuel Macron made the statement Tuesday while discussing the issue with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris.

Last week, Trump announced his decision -- despite widespread opposition -- to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as plans to relocate Washington's embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The announcement drew strong condemnation from around the world, including Turkey, the EU and the UN.

The two leaders reaffirmed their condemnation of the decision, insisting that the first half of 2018 would be “crucial” for the region.

"We don’t agree with the unilateral move by the Americans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital, but we want to see the full initiative put on the table," Macron told a joint news conference with Abdullah.

"We will lend our support to any useful initiative."

Abdullah said his country "will be waiting in the next few months on our American friends".

"We are waiting to hear what the plan will be and where it will bring us."

"Palestinians must be able to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, a state that lives side by side with the state of Israel," Abdullah added.

Macron will hold talks with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Paris after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec.10.

The French leader said France "will maintain contact with everyone in the region".

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

At an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held last week in Istanbul, participants responded to the U.S. policy change on Jerusalem by formally recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

The OIC is the second-largest inter-governmental body after the United Nations and its 57 member states are spread over four continents.

On Monday, the U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that rejected the establishment of diplomatic facilities in Jerusalem, breaking with the rest of the council.