Gaza City (dpa) - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the US president‘s formal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital - a move that has drawn widespread international condemnation from Washington‘s allies and foes - was a "declaration of war." "We affirm that Jerusalem is united, not Eastern or Western, and will remain the capital of Palestine, all of Palestine," Haniyeh of the Gaza-based militant group said in a speech from the Gaza Strip.He called for a new Palestinian uprising against the move starting Friday. Donald Trump‘s Wednesday announcement also to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was expectedly met with praise in Israel from a wide spectrum of politicians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was in contact with more countries which plan to follow Trump‘s lead. "We are already in contact with other countries that will recognize similar recognition, and I have no doubt that as soon as the American embassy moves to Jerusalem, and before that, many embassies will move to Jerusalem," Netanyahu said in a speech at Israel‘s Foreign Ministry on Thursday. "It‘s about time," he added. Hamas‘ call for an uprising comes amid a wave of condemnations before and after Trump announced his decision.Rami Hamdallah, prime minister of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority (PA) government, reiterated the PA‘s demand that East Jerusalem be the capital of a future Palestinian state. He added that the US will no longer player a role in any peace process. "Your aid is not wanted," Hamdallah said, addressing Trump in a speech on Wednesday. "We will not accept your patron for the peace process anymore." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharpened his rhetoric against the US leader. "If Mr Trump says ‘I am strong, so I am right,‘ then he is mistaken. The one who is right is the strong one," he said. "Here, we are the right ones." Erdogan is aiming to bring together the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a group of 57 Muslim nations, next week in Istanbul for a meeting.Addressing supporters in Ankara before flying to Greece, Erdogan said he plans to talk with world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis and top-ranking European officials.Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned that "Pandora‘s box was opened in the region with the decision," the state-run Anadolu news agency quoted him as saying. "The US president‘s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the steps related to it are null and void for Turkey." Until Trump‘s decision the US, along with the rest of the world, chose to keep its embassy in Tel Aviv in an effort to remain neutral in peace negotiations between the two sides.Israel captured the eastern half of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed the territory in a move that was not internationally recognized. The city of more than 800,000 has remained in limbo ever since.Israel captured the eastern half of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed the territory in a move that was not internationally recognized. The city of more than 800,000 has remained in limbo ever since.
