Haley: Jerusalem recognition will move peace efforts forward

US President Donald Trump’s administration insists on Sunday that its recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital will help the cause of peace, with UN Ambassador Nikki Haley saying it will “move the ball forward.”

The new US stance, fiercely criticized by Palestinians, Arab leaders and others as gravely damaging any prospects for Middle East peace, has given rise to swelling protests across the region in recent days.

But Haley suggests that the fears are overblown.

She tells CNN that Trump was the first US president to have the “courage” to make a move that she said many Americans and others around the world supported.

“When it comes to those people (who are) upset, we knew that was going to happen. But courage causes that… I strongly believe this is going to move the ball forward for the peace process.”

When a CNN interviewer asks repeatedly how the change would help the cause of peace, Haley suggests that it would simplify negotiations.

“Now they get to come together to decide what the borders look like, they get to decide the boundaries and they get to talk about how they want to see Jerusalem, going forward.

“All we did was say, ‘this is not something we’re going to allow to happen in the middle of your negotiations.'”

— AFP