Macron says "law of strongest" won't unlock deadlock Middle East peace process

PARIS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron stressed Friday that his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump's unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital would not help end decades of conflicts in the Middle East, urging everyone's responsibility to not ignite tensions in the region.

Opening a meeting in Paris for support to Lebanon, Macron said he hoped Washington's move "will not add instability to the region," adding that "the status of Jerusalem...must first and foremost be the subject of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and under the auspices of the United Nations."

"None of the problems in the region will be solved by unilateral decisions, the law of the strongest," the president said.

Macron also called "for calm and responsibility of all. "

On Wednesday, the U.S. president broke with decades of Washington policy by acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He decided to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city which has been a sensitive issue in peace talks and the main subject of disagreement between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators for decades.

Trump's declaration triggered wide criticism and opposition from Arab and Muslim countries and upset western major powers.

Palestinians held protests on Friday in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, over U.S. recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned and rejected the U.S. decision in a speech aired live on the official Palestinian Television, saying the declaration would not give any legitimacy to Israel in this matter.

In West Bank, scores of people paraded towards the Israeli settlements where they clashed with Israeli soldiers.

The soldiers opened fire and threw tear gas bombs at the protesters, causing at least 40 injuries, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Enditem