Arab countries condemn U.S. decision on Golan Heights

Arab countries condemned last week's decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, Tunisia Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui addressed Friday at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on the day before Tunisia hosts the annual Arab League summit.

"We will work with fellow Arab countries and the international community to contain the expected repercussions of this decision in the various regional and international forums," Jhinaoui told Arab foreign ministers at a meeting in Tunis. Tunisia currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League (AL).

Jhinaoui also said that the existence of the AL is important and imperative as a space that brings together all Arabs and allows their leaders to meet and discuss Arab issues, according to a statement released by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday.

Earlier Wednesday, the Arab summit spokesperson Mahmoud Khemiri told media that U.S. President Donald Trump's unilateral decisions on the occupied territories (in Syria and Palestine), including the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, will be addressed at the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers.

The spokesperson affirmed the Arab consensus on the refusal of the U.S. president's decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights because it violates the UN charter as well as international rights and resolutions, including the UN Security Council Resolution 242 and 497.

He said the latest developments in Syria were on the agenda, but the issue of reinstating its membership in the AL is not for now, noting that its natural place is within the AL.

The agenda of the Arab foreign ministers' preparatory meeting includes developments in the Palestinian cause in the light of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, efforts to support the struggles of the Palestinian people and their right to establish an independent state.

Tunisia would host a quadripartite meeting as part of the Arab summit in the presence of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the Arab League to discuss ways of implementing the roadmap and organizing free elections in Libya before the end of this year.

(CGTN)