Palestinians slam US attendance in J'lem tunnel opening

By Laith al-Junaidi

AMMAN (AA) –The Jordan-based Palestinian National Council (PNC) on Monday decried U.S. participation in the opening of an Israeli tunnel south of East Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt attended the opening of the tunnel under the Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem on Sunday.

"This is an aggression on Jerusalem's historical and religious landmarks and brazen defiance to the Arab and Islamic world," the PNC said in a statement.

It said the tunnel opening "reflects the U.S. and Israeli disregard of all UN and UNESCO resolutions and decisions of Arab and Islamic summits".

During the opening ceremony, Friedman said "whether there was ever any doubt about the accuracy, the wisdom, the propriety of [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, I certainly think this lays all doubts to rest.”

Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as "Israel's capital" in late 2017 and relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018.

Ever since, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has rejected any U.S. role in Middle East peacemaking.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the perennial Mideast conflict, with Palestinians hoping East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

Founded in 1948, the PNC is a legislative body that theoretically represents Palestinians at home and abroad.