THE Umno general assembly should not end without a resolution touching on US President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem move, says PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Saifudidn said Umno president Najib Razak could make a firm resolution on Trump, which might influence Trump’s decision on the move.

“The people will see whether Umno has the courage to make a stand or resolution pushing the United States because we know that Umno, as the ruling party, has an influence on foreign policy,” he said today during the submission of a memorandum of protest by Pakatan Harapan in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.

Saifuddin said Pakatan delivered the memorandum following Trump’s announcement on Wednesday recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and his plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“The action (by Trump) is provocative and will disrupt peacefulness and affect those in Palestine as well as across the world,” he said.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said if Najib was truly close to Trump, then the former should urge Trump to retract his decision.

“Najib and his friends previously said Trump is Najib’s close friend.

“If this is true, Najib should use his good ties with Trump to push him (Trump) to retract his statement to save the Muslims in Palestine.

“If Najib really is close and has an influence on Trump, this is the time to use it,” he said.

Other Pakatan leaders present today was Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng of DAP.

A coalition of 51 civil society groups campaigning to save Al-Quds was also present today.

In a press statement, Pakatan condemned Trump for formally recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“This decision by Trump represents a nail in the coffin to any prospects of a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestine situation and will also inflame religious tensions because Jerusalem is a sacred place for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It tears to shreds the Oslo Accords initiated by the US itself.

“Palestinians are still subjected to merciless blockades by the Israeli army and relentlessly suffer from widespread land and property dispossessions,” read the statement, which was signed by Pakatan deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai, Mohamad Sabu and Saifuddin.

On Wednesday, Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, upending decades of careful US policy and ignoring dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East.

Plunging further into a bitter centuries-old argument between Jews, Muslims and Christians, Trump will also order planning to begin on moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Najib had strongly condemned the move by the US to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

Najib said he was confident that Muslims would never accept the decision by the US to recognise the city, one of the three holiest places after Mecca and Medina. – December 8, 2017.