The Cape Accord has achieved exactly the opposite of its intended purpose. The issue has since been conflated and politicized to such an extent that any talk of peaceful co-existence across the sectarian divide is portrayed as ‘selling’ out to the Shia, whilst any attempt to defend our aqeedah is equated to hate speech. Both positions are equally incorrect and serve only to further polarize an already divided ummah.

Mr Trump’s announcement that the United States recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is simply a fulfilment of his signature promise made during the 2016 presidential election. His announcement comes as no surprise given that America has been an effective partner in Israel’s continued effacement of Palestine from the map of the Middle East. The USA was never an honest broker of peace in the Palestinian conflict.