PA Preacher: U.S. Embassy Move to Jerusalem ‘Means War’

If the United States moves its embassy to Jerusalem, it will mean “war,” the chief preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque said Friday. Israel Radio quoted Achrama Savri, head of the Higher Islamic Committee and a regular preacher at the mosque, who said that “moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem is a declaration of war against Arabs and Muslims.” Savri’s comments were printed in a publication by the Palestinian Information Center, the report said.

According to Savri, the only reason Trump promised to move the embassy was to “satisfy the Jewish vote.” If this actually did happen, that would constitute American recognition of Jerusalem as a part of Israel.

“We are used to Al Aqsa being in danger, but this is a true danger,” he said. “I call on all Arabs and Muslims to come and defend Al-Aqsa.”

In a statement last week, David Friedman, Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, said that he welcomed the task, and looked forward to carrying out his assignment in “Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people.” A Trump spokesperson had already said earlier that the president-elect was took the idea of moving the embassy to Jerusalem “very seriously.”