Hamas Hails South Africa's Plan To Downgrade Ties With Israel: Tension Maxes Out Over Trump Jerusalem Move

Hamas Hails South Africa's Plan To Downgrade Ties With Israel: Tension Maxes Out Over Trump Jerusalem Move

07 December 2017

Palestinian IC

Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on Wednesday praised the African National Congress's (ANC) plan to downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel.

The ruling party's policy conference filed a recommendation in this regard to the 54th General Conference that will be held in mid-December. If the General Conference adopts this recommendation, it will be reflected in the policy of the state and the party.

Hamas in a statement urged the ANC leaders to adopt this recommendation as an expression of their solidarity with the Palestinian people, pointing out that the ANC has long been known for its support of the Palestinian people and their rights against the Israeli occupation's racist policies.

The Movement continued, "The peoples of the world, including the Palestinian people, supported South Africa during the apartheid era, and today the Palestinian people need the same solidarity to bring down another apartheid state."

Hamas affirmed that downgrading or severing diplomatic relations with Israel sends a message of support to the boycott movements all over the world and proves that South Africa still pursues the path of its leader Nelson Mandela who said, "South Africa will not be fully liberated unless Palestine is liberated too."

Tension maxes out as Trump declares Jerusalem as capital of Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, becoming the first American president to ever do so.

"It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Trump during his speech at the White House, delivered on Wednesday at 1 p.m. local time.

During his speech, the president also announced that he will move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, despite the waiver signed recently that delayed the decision by six months.

Commenting on the motivation behind his decision, Trump said that while "we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement, it would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula will achieve anything different."

The U.S. president said that he wanted to look at the Palestinian-Israeli decades-long conflict with fresh thinking, explaining that he judges "this course of action to be in the best interests of the U.S. and the pursuit of peace."

The president said he was aware of the warning he received regarding his decision.

"There will of course be disagreement and dissent regarding this announcement - but we are confident that ultimately, as we work through these disagreements, we will arrive at a place of greater understanding and cooperation."

Following Trump's speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the decision as "historic." Netanyahu pledged "no change to status quo at Jerusalem holy sites," reported Agence France Presse (AFP).

While Trump's move was warmly welcomed by Israel, it was strongly condemned by Arab leaders.

Many, including King Mohammed VI of Morocco, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, attempted to stop Trump from taking the step. However, Trump was firm in his decision.

The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas said that Donald Trump's decision would open the "gates of hell."

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