[File photo of Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem - the third holiest site for Muslims after Masjid Al Haram in Makkah and Prophet's Mosque in Madina.]
Ramallah: One hundred famous actors, musicians, writers and filmmakers from around the world denounced on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a letter sent to The Guardian newspaper, artists including Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Vivienne Westwood, Julie Christie and many more, said that Trump’s move helps achieve what Israel has been trying to do, that is, to “to erase Palestinians, as a political and cultural presence, from the life of their own city.”
“In recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Donald Trump seeks to achieve through a declaration what Israel has been trying to do for 50 years through force of arms: To erase Palestinians, as a political and cultural presence, from the life of their own city.
"The Palestinian people of Jerusalem are already subject to municipal discrimination at every level, and a creeping process of ethnic cleansing.”
The artists said, "We reject Trump’s collusion with such racist manipulation and his disregard for international law."
"We deplore his readiness to crown the Israeli military conquest of East Jerusalem and his indifference to Palestinian rights. As artists and as citizens, we challenge the ignorance and inhumanity of these policies, and celebrate the resilience of Palestinians living under occupation", they said.
Musician Peter Gabriel said in his own statement, "Jerusalem must encompass the hopes and dreams of all its peoples and religions, not just those with the most political, economic and military power...
"I hope these protests will trigger a reaction around the world to condemn all the human rights abuses inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Israeli government and by the occupation and lead to active international support for all those inside and outside Israel working for a just and fair peace", he said.
The international community has strongly criticized Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which has also provoked widespread Palestinian protests in the Israeli occupied territories, WAFA news reported.
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