The umbrella organization that represents Arab-Palestinians in Israel has urged its followers to join the protests against President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel announced that they reached an agreement to oppose Trump’s announcement following an emergency meeting in Nazareth. “United States policy and Trump are the problem, not the solution,” said Committee Chairman and former Hadash MK Mohammed Barakeh.

Barakeh called on the Arab states not to suffice with simple condemnations, but to withdraw their ambassadors from Washington, adding that “recent developments illustrate the depth of the strategic alliance between the Trump government, the Netanyahu government and the Arab reactionary regimes, primarily Saudi Arabia against the rights of the Palestinians and against the minimum conditions for a just and lasting peace based on decisions decided by the United Nations.”

Numerous protest groups have already been demonstrating at major junctions across Israel. On Thursday, December 7, a demonstration was held by Hadash and Communist Party activists in Nazareth. A large protest took place Saturday night, December 9, in Wadi Ara.

In addition, the High Follow-Up Committee is scheduled to meet with prominent officials from the Palestinian Authority on Sunday in Jerusalem in order to coordinate their next steps. On Monday, a protest will take place during the visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State to the Knesset and on Tuesday evening, December 12, a demonstration will take place in front of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.