(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, warned against the US intention to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Al-Azhar said the Arab and Palestinian identity of Jerusalem is unchangeable.
It stressed that the UN Charters oblige the occupying powers not to change the situation on the ground and do not recognize any measures that contradict this, the statement noted.
In a message sent to US President Donald Trump, Moroccan King Mohammad VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, expressed Arab countries and nations' grave concerns over the US intention to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving its American embassy to this holy city.
The King referred to the importance of Jerusalem not only to the parties of the conflict but also to all three religions - Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
He stated that any step towards recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US Embassy to it would negatively affect means of finding a just and comprehensive settlement for the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis received on Tuesday a telephone call from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on the US move regarding Jerusalem.
The Pope and President Abbas discussed over the telephone the matter of moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, said Vatican spokesman.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Tuesday his country's position calling for the need to conduct direct negotiations between both the Israeli and Palestinian sides over disputable matters, including Jerusalem. This came during a telephone conversation between Putin and Abbas.
Putin underlined the necessity of reaching a fair and long-term solution to the conflict so as to meet interest of the two sides, said Russian press center. (end) hm
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