US has no right to decide capital of another country, say religious leaders

Abu Dhabi - Trump's move serves only the interests of the US and Israel, they say.

Religious leaders from around the world have condemned US President Donald Trump's controversial decision, naming Occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
During the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, held in Abu Dhabi on Monday, pastor Bob Roberts, founding and senior pastor of NorthWood Church, USA, said he heard about Trump's "shocking" stunt last week during his visit in Bethlehem with an Evangelical group, where him and his wife were teargassed by Israeli forces.
"My heart is very heavy today. I came straight from Bethlehem and we had no idea what was going on and we were there when the announcement was made.
"I don't want to speak about what Trump did, but it is very important to understand that if we are going to get along, we have to overcome ignorance."
He said Trump's decision creates separation, rather than unification.
"We have to bypass the government, we need to go straight to the people. We need to be the ones building bridges with other religions.
"There are also Christians in America who have hijacked my faith," he added.
Dr Abbas Shouman, deputy of Al Azhar, a Muslim authority in Egypt, said he feared Trump's latest move will trigger greater conflict and violence.
"The whole world disapproves calling of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and such behaviour does not call for peace."
Dr Qamar Ul Huda, director, Security and Violent Extremism, stressed that although Trump's decision is surprising to many, the US have been "sleeping for the past 20 years when it comes to the Israeli and Palestinian peace-process".
"Tensions will continue to rise because the peace process does not exist, there is no such thing."
He stressed that Trump's move serves only the interests of the US and Israel, and will help Trump be elected in 2021.
Rev Canon Andrew Thompson, senior Anglican chaplain at St Andrew's Church, Abu Dhabi, said he was shocked and saddened by the news.
"First of all, as a Christian leader, I am appalled. I do not want to buy into the theological belief that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
"I am very angry with the American foreign policy, and I would really hope that Christian leaders would seek peace for Jerusalem."
"America had no right to decide the capital of another country," he added.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com