The Council of Senior Scholars of al-Azhar has confirmed its rejection of the US decision to recognise Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel and to relocate US embassy to the city.

In the final statement of its emergency meeting yesterday, the senior scholars of Al-Azhar stressed that the Arab identity of Al-Quds and its Palestinian identity is not subject to change or tampering as it is Palestinian, Arab and Islamic.

The Council called on all governments and Arab and Islamic organisations to carry out their duties towards Jerusalem and Palestine and to take all necessary political and legal measures to nullify these resolutions. It also called upon all governments, international organisations, the Security Council and the United Nations to act effectively and decisively in this regard.