A senior Turkish government official on Monday warned of a “major catastrophe” if the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital despite a flood of warnings from the Arab world. “If the (current) status of Jerusalem is changed and another step is taken … that would be a major catastrophe,” Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said during a televised press conference. President Donald Trump faces a key decision this week on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, potentially reversing years of United States policy and drawing a furious response from the Palestinian leadership and the Arab world. Most of the international community, including the US as well as Turkey, does not formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, insisting the issue can only be resolved through final status negotiations. Bozdag, also government spokesman, on Monday said a US step to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would benefit “neither Israel … nor the region.”“It would not benefit anything.

Source: Punch December 04, 2017 14:22 UTC