Palestine recalls US envoy after Trump’s Jerusalem move



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The Palestinian leadership has said it is recalling its envoy to the United States following Washington’s controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Aljazeera reported.

Palestinian officials have previously said they will “no longer accept” any peace plan put forward by the US following President Donald Trump’s unilateral declaration on December 6.

On Sunday, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA said that Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Liberation Organization envoy to Washington, DC, would return for “consultations”.

Riyad al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said that discussions would take place “to set the decisions needed by the Palestinian leadership in the coming period regarding our relations with the US”.

He added that the envoy is expected to return to “his normal work” after the discussions.

Palestinians want occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, while Israel says the city cannot be divided.

Also on Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Jerusalem “the eternal capital of the Palestinian people”, in an event marking the 53rd anniversary of his Fatah movement.

“We will not accept the status quo. We will not accept the apartheid system. We will not accept occupation without cost, and you [Israel] must rethink your aggressive policies and actions against our people, our land and our holy places before it is too late,” said Abbas.