Palestinians lack key Arab support on Jerusalem

Mr Trump's important decision on Jerusalem:

Mr Trump has recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered to begin the process of shifting the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

According to news reports, the waiver of shifting, signed every 6 months by US Presidents, due on 1st December, has not been signed by Mr Trump.

Arab countries' Response:

In the first 24 hours after the US President announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,  only Jordan’s King Abdullah and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan came out strongly against the US recognition.

The UN Security Council members in a meeting on Friday, UK and most European Union members have also condemned the US decision. 

Foreign ministers from 22 Arab states meeting in Egypt's capital, Cairo, on Saturday have termed US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital "dangerous and unacceptable" and a "flagrant attack on a political solution" to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

Having gone through the motions of condemning Trump’s pro-Israeli act, few Arab countries are actively opposing it. To many Arab and Gulf countries(GCC), Palestine is no more the first Arab issue. They are interested in development and freedom, and do not want to confront Israel militarily nor antagonise the US.

Saudi Arabia Initiative:

Before Mr Trump made the announcement, a Saudi proposal for a peace initiative between Israelis and Palestinians offered the village of Abu Dis as the future capital of Palestine instead of East Jerusalem, stirring widespread anger. 

According to Israeli sources, Palestinian President Mahmoud  Abbas was given an ultimatum by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, after he was summoned to Riyadh last week for a meeting. At US behest, Bin Salman has told Abbas that he has to back Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace deal or resign.

 Arab and Muslim People's Response:

For the Arab and Muslim people world wide, Jerusalem is an emotional issue. There has been world wide spontaneous protest against the US and Israel but not strong enough as anticipated.

The Arab regimes are not serious and the statements are only for public consumption, as the people are clearly outraged, as demonstrated world wide. While little can be expected from the Arab League on the issue, they have to be prepared to deal with protest and violence on the street, and some surprise attacks from extremist organisations.

Palestinians:

Palestinians want to make East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine. So, any move which will negate that will be resisted, whether other Arab nations back them or not.

The situation in Palestine is inflammable enough to catch fire in a trice. A large-scale Palestinian terrorist attack against Israel is always on the cards, and the potential for Israeli security forces facing a raging mob  to inflict a large number of casualties cannot be ruled out for triggering a major outbreak.