Bangladesh has said that the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and transfer of US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv may trigger grave consequences and threats to international peace and security.

‘We’re afraid that United States recent announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv may trigger grave consequences and threats to international peace and security by inflaming the Muslim world,’ said Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the UN on Thursday, reports the BSS.

In a meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at the UN Headquarters, he also said it will raise new waves of tension, hostility and violent extremism in the already volatile region of the Middle East as well as other regions of the world.

The ambassador also reiterated Bangladesh’s stance in favour of establishing the State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

‘Bangladesh stresses preserving the legal status of Jerusalem within the framework of relevant UN resolutions,’ he said.

Expressing his deep concern over the US announcement, Masud said it would impose Israeli control over the holy city of East Jerusalem and contribute to changing its historical and legal status, its demographic structure and historic Arab-Islamic character.

He urged all parties concerned to take a pragmatic approach to the Middle East Process in reaching a two-state solution to peace and stability in the region.

The ambassador mentioned that Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid recently attended the sixth extraordinary OIC summit held in Istanbul on 13 December 2017 to show the country’s solidarity with the Palestinian people at this critical juncture.

The Permanent Representative of Senegal Ambassador Fod, Seck chaired the meeting while the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour delivered his statement among others.

The unilateral, irresponsible and reckless decision of the USA regarding the status of Jerusalem is a ‘clear violation’ of international law, said Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour.

He praised the diplomatic efforts made by several UN member states, particularly in the Security Council condemning the US decision and supporting the peace process in Middle East.

In his statement, Permanent Representative of Turkey Ambassador Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu made brief remarks on the recent extraordinary OIC summit of Istanbul convened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on this issue.