Norway FM says U.S. potential decision on Jerusalem could hinder peace process

OSLO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Norway's foreign minister said Tuesday that a potential U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel can make the peace process more difficult, public broadcaster NRK reported.

"There are many participants in the region who also contribute to making things more difficult," Ine Eriksen Soreide told NRK as she was in Brussels, Belgium, for a NATO foreign ministers meeting.

"It is clear that what will be perceived as a change of line (from the American side) could also contribute to that direction," she said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by phone that he intends to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Palestinians have strongly condemned and rejected Trump's decision, and called for days of rage all over the Palestinian territories against the decision of the U.S. president, who also informed the leaders of Israel, Jordan and Egypt on his intentions.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, said the Palestinian leadership totally rejects U.S. moving embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, adding "such a move would have serious and crucial consequences on the peace process."

"We can't accept moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem because this means that it is an official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel," he said, warning that the consequences of this decision will trigger danger on peace, security and stability in the region. Enditem