US President Donald Trump should not even set foot in Jerusalem, much less make it the capital of Israel, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy, who is also youth and sports minister, said Trump’s plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognising it as the capital of Israel, was against international law and humanity.

“President Trump, this is an illegal announcement. Jerusalem is an occupied territory. You should not even set foot in Jerusalem and make it the capital of Israel.

“Mark my words, Trump. We aren’t here for conflict, but we want to make sure that even the most powerful man in the free world respects international law, that you will not continue to insult the feelings of not just Muslims, but people all over the world who want to see justice, and a safe and independent Palestinian nation,” said Khairy in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur today, after submitting a memorandum against the move.

Khairy said the announcement made by Trump cannot be accepted and the objection was not only shown by Umno Youth, but also PAS Youth members who were present as well.

“I just entered the (US) embassy and submitted the memorandum on behalf of Umno Youth and I told them (embassy) the action (taken by Trump) was too much and can’t be accepted.

“We will not stop until Palestine land is returned to the Palestinians,” he added.

In the memorandum of protest, Umno Youth demanded for the US to immediately retract the statement.

“This non-negotiable demand is made in solidarity with the international community including the United Nations and the governments of Turkey, France, United Kingdom, Germany and in the Middle East,” stated the memorandum.

About a thousand people showed up to the protest, which also included Bersatu Youth (Armada) members and civil society groups such as the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM).

The protest, which commenced at 2pm began with a march from Tabung Haji headquarters, where they had gathered after Friday prayers, to the US embassy.

PAS leaders including PAS youth chief Mohd Khalil Abdul Hadi and PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad were also present in the protest along with Armada chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

On Wednesday, US President Donald 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 is also planning to begin moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Najib Razak had strongly condemned the move and said Muslims throughout the world would never accept the decision as Jerusalem is one of the three holiest places in the religion after Mecca and Medina.

The EU, along with other major international powers, has repeatedly voiced deep concern about Trump’s declaration.

EU’s diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital could take the region “backwards to even darker times”. – December 8, 2017.