Arab officials say US President Donald Trump\u2019s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital risks plunging the Middle East into \u201cviolence and chaos\u201d.<\/p>\n
The move ended US neutrality on one of the region\u2019s most sensitive issues.<\/p>\n
Arab League foreign ministers now say it means the US cannot be relied upon as a broker of Middle East peace.<\/p>\n
The statement by 22 countries, including close US allies, comes after a third day of violence and protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n
Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem \u2013 occupied by Israel in the 1967 war \u2013 as the capital of a future Palestinian state.<\/p>\n
For Mr Trump the decision fulfils a campaign promise and he has said it was \u201cnothing more or less than a recognition of reality\u201d.<\/p>\n
But he has faced fierce criticism for the decision.<\/p>\n
The Arab League resolution was agreed at 03:00 (01:00 GMT) after hours of talks in Cairo. It was backed by a number of US allies, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, who had already voiced their concern.<\/p>\n
The resolution said:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The US had \u201cwithdrawn itself as a sponsor and broker\u201d of any possible Israeli-Palestinian peace process through its decision<\/li>\n
- Mr Trump\u2019s move \u201cdeepens tension, ignites anger and threatens to plunge region into more violence and chaos\u201d<\/li>\n
- A request would be made for the UN Security Council to condemn the move<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, the US found itself isolated, with the other 14 members all condemning Mr Trump\u2019s declaration.<\/p>\n
But US ambassador Nikki Haley accused the UN of bias, saying it \u201chas outrageously been one of the world\u2019s foremost centres of hostility towards Israel\u201d, and that the US was still committed to finding peace.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had heard \u201cvoices of condemnation over President Trump\u2019s historic announcement\u201d but had \u201cnot heard any condemnation for the rocket firing against Israel that has come and the awful incitement against us\u201d.<\/p>\n
He will be in Paris on Sunday for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of meetings with EU foreign ministers on Monday.<\/p>\n
Three rockets were fired towards Israel from Gaza on Friday, leading Israel to carry out air strikes in response. It said it hit military sites belonging to the Islamist group Hamas, killing two of its members.<\/p>\n
Hundreds protested in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday, but crowds were smaller than in previous days.<\/p>\n
In northern Israel a bus was pelted with rocks as it passed through mostly Arab communities, with three Israelis injured, Haaretz reported.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Palestinians had protested on Friday, with solidarity demonstrations held across the Arab world and in other Muslim-majority nations.<\/p>\n
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Sunday: \u201cOur hope is that everything is calming down and that we are returning to a path of normal life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Source: BBC<\/strong><\/p>\n
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