EU's Mogherini meets Jordan minister after warning Jerusalem move risks return to 'darker times'

The chief EU diplomat Federica Mogherini met with Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to address Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

08 December, 2017

Chief EU diplomat and Jordanian Foreign Minister held a joint press conference [Getty]

The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday to address US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Mogherini previously condemned Trump's decision, warning that it risks taking the region "backwards to even darker times than the ones we are already living in."

She also emphasised that the EU will maintain a united stance on the status of Jerusalem and continue working towards a two-state solution, in which Jerusalem will be the capital of both states.

Mogherini is due to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday. She has called for calm between the two sides, stating that, "what we truly need in these difficult times is wisdom and to listen to the wise voices calling for peace and peaceful reactions".

Last week, Safadi warned of "grave consequences" if the US president was to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognising the holy city as Israel's capital.

Speaking to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday, Safadi said that such a decision would trigger widespread anger across the Arab and Muslim worlds, and obstruct any American-led peace initiatives between Israel and Palestine.

Safadi has also called for emergency meeting of the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to discuss how they can deal with the US embassy move.

Trump's announcement has already provoked a 'day of rage' across Palestine, sparking protests and violence in the West Bank and Gaza.