Al-Azhar’s Grand Sheikh Slams US Decision over Al-Quds, Cancels Pence Meeting

Local Editor

Al-Azhar's Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb has cancelled a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence.

The top Egyptian religious leader cancelled the meeting after President Donald Trump's move to recognize Occupied Al-Quds as the capital of the "Israeli" entity, Al-Azhar said Friday.

In a statement, Al-Azhar, Egypt's highest Sunni institution, said Tayeb had reversed his previous decision to meet Pence, who is due to travel to Egypt and Occupied Al-Quds in the second half of December.

Tayeb announced "his categorical rejection of a formal request from US Vice President Mike Pence to meet with him on December 20," Al-Azhar said.

"Al-Azhar cannot sit with those who falsify history and steal the rights of people," the statement said. "How can I sit with those who gave what they do not own to those who are undeserving?" the statement quoted Tayeb as asking.

He further stated: "The US president must immediately reverse this decision."

The US embassy had submitted an official request a week ago, "and the grand imam had agreed to this, but after the unjust and unfair American decision on Al-Quds, Al-Azhar's grand imam announces his strong and decisive rejection of this meeting."

Senior Palestinian officials have also said a planned meeting between Pence and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is now unlikely to take place.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team