KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim countries must stand united must work together with the international community to ensure the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) is negotiated within the framework of a two-state solution.
In a blog post today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the final status of Jerusalem should not be decided on by a unilateral recognition as done by the United States but instead through bilateral negotiations between Palestine and Israel.
Najib had spoken at the Extraordinary Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Turkey yesterday, which was called following the United States' announcement on making Jerusalem the capital of Israel and to move the current US embassy from Tel Aviv to the new capital.
"Many Muslim country leaders attended the summit and I too was given a chance to voice our Malaysians concern over the issue at the summit.
"Among the points put forward was that Malaysia condemned and totally rejected the unilateral decision by the United States to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," Najib wrote.
He said such a move undermines all efforts towards finding a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. More than ever, Najib said, the future of the two-state solution hangs in the balance given its fragile context.
"Any attempt to recognise Al-Quds Al-Sharif or any changes in the pre-1967 borders, is an infringement of the Palestinian people’s rights and their right to self-determination. It is also a serious breach of international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including the recent Resolution 2334 (2016)," he said.
He added that recognition of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Israel is akin to adding fuel to what is already a combustible situation. By doing so, he said, it also endorses Israel’s brutal occupation and repressive policies, which have caused immense suffering to the Palestinian people.
"As we all know, the issue of Al-Quds Al-Sharif is at the heart of the Palestinian cause. The decision by the US is a provocation and has serious consequences on the security of the region. It has inflamed the sentiments of the Palestinians and the Muslim Ummah worldwide. We have seen protests and demonstrations against the decision, including in my own country," he said.
Najib said as an organisation that represents more than 1.6 billion Muslims, the OIC must not be indifferent and it cannot remain silent in the face of such an unjust development.
"Our collective voice cannot be ignored, and neither should the chorus of negative reaction from the wider international community. We must unite in our cause to reject any move to proclaim Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital city of Israel. On the contrary, Al-Quds Al-Sharif must ultimately be the capital of the State of Palestine," Najib said
At the same time, he said Muslim countries must strive to dissuade other countries from following suit in proclaiming the city as Israel’s capital.
"Our faith unites us in this endeavour and we must not relent in our collective will to fight for what is right and just."
The impasse in the Middle East Peace Process, he said, needed pragmatic solutions based on international law and norms, and hoped the US makes a helpful contribution by firstly rescinding its decision and secondly shouldering its responsibility in helping to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution.
"We must be reminded that Al-Quds Al-Sharif is sacred to Muslims and is also a place of great religious significance to other faiths. These holy sites remind us that the city should be a place of peace where worshippers from different faiths can congregate and pray. We should therefore do all we can to preserve peace in the city and ensure access for worshippers of all faiths.
"We too must remind ourselves that we need to unite and speak with one voice to ensure that any attempt to alter the character and status quo of Al-Quds Al-Sharif against the wishes of the Palestinian people is therefore objectionable and must be totally rejected," Najib said.