Pakistan Senators Slam US Jerusalem Move But Cling to US Visas

Thirty-three Pakistani senators unwound their best rhetoric for nearly five hours before unanimously passing a resolution criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.


Only one thing left them briefly silent and red-faced: Sen. Muhammad Ali Saif told his colleagues that if they were really serious about their sentiment, they should give up the two-year U.S. visas issued to all senators.


Saif looked pointedly around the chamber. No one responded to his challenge.


The Express Tribune newspaper reported the exchange on Monday, after the Senate suspended its regular agenda for the first day of their new session to tackle the Jerusalem issue. Pakistan does not recognize Israel's statehood.


The senators called Trump’s action a flagrant violation of international law and U.N. Security Council resolutions. They said that any attempt to sabotage the Mideast peace process would be the darkest decision in history. They condemned killings of innocent citizens by Israeli forces “which prove that the U.S. decision is an aggression and a declaration of war on Palestinians.”


While some told their colleagues to avoid being too emotional, others proposed boycotting U.S. products. 


It seemed that only tearing up their U.S. visas would be going too far.