Dr Ghada Karmi said: “He doesn’t know anything about it.“I’ll tell you what the Middle East does not need right now is a know-nothing American President.”
Israel has praised the US President’s decision to recognise the Jerusalem as its capital.
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The Middle East does not need ‘know-nothing’ Donald Trump, says Dr Ghana Karmi
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump had made an important move towards peace.
He said: “The president’s decision is an important step towards peace, for there is no peace that doesn’t include Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.“I share President Trump’s commitment to advancing peace between Israel and all of our neighbours, including the Palestinians.”Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, echoed Trump’s statement that the move was “nothing more or less than a recognition of reality and the right thing to do”.
Protest in Turkey after Trump declares Jerusalem capital of Israel
He doesn’t know anything about it
Dr Ghada Karmi
Mr Regev said: “There is an international norm, that every country’s right to choose its own capital.
“That is a sovereign right of every country on the planet.”The decision has sparked fears of violence across the Middle East with anticipation of the announcement prompting flag burning protests.
Dr Karmi said: “The reality is that the American President has endorsed an illegal situation.
President Donald Trump makes historic visit to Israel
AFP/GETTY IMAGES US President Donald Trump visits the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, in Jerusalems Old City on May 22, 2017.
“Israel is in illegal occupation of Arab Jerusalem – Arab Jerusalem – and its sovereignty over West Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community.
“That is a legal fact.”
Speaking on Newsnight Dr Karmi and Turkey called for recognition of the rights of Palestinians living in the contested capital.
Chief Turkish advisor Inure Cevik said: “It is a very hard thing to turn to these people and say Jerusalem is the capital, finished.
He revealed that Turkey was frustrated by the decision as they seek to maintain a dialogue with Israel “for the sake of the Palestinians”.
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Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision he said: “It is becoming harder and harder for Turkey to maintain a plausible relationship with Israel.“
Mr Cevik warned that his country may be forced to sever ties with Netanyahu’s administration.
Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin said he “strongly” supported his President’s decision claiming it was a fact that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel.Commentators have now claimed that the US can no longer claim to be neutral or act as a negotiator in the peace talks in the region.
Mr Zeldin responded to remarks about Trump being a “know-nothing America” by reiterating his claim that it is a fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
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