RAMALLAH, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Spokesman of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed Monday the firm stand of the Palestinians on the issue of Jerusalem.

Describing the issue of Jerusalem as "the core and top priority" of the Palestinian cause, Nabil Abu Rudeinah said the Palestinians had succeeded in thwarting the U.S. attempts to achieve "free normalization, which goes against the Arab Peace Initiative."

He called on the Palestinians to unite to confront the attacks on the Palestinian cause, particularly the holy city of Jerusalem, which required the Central Council to make decisions at such a critical moment.

The meeting of the Central Council on the Palestinian land showed the strength of the Palestinians over the issue of Jerusalem and to confront the Israeli occupation, said the president's spokesman, adding that the meeting is a message to the world that the Palestinian decision is independent.

Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his country's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that drew widespread criticism and protests worldwide.

The Palestinians consider East Jerusalem, which was seized by the Israelis in the 1967 war, as the capital of their future independent state, while the Israelis insist that the entire city is their eternal capital.