14 May 2018•Update: 14 May 2018
By Tufan Aktas
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
Palestinian ambassador to Ethiopia on Monday called on the African Union to continue extending its support to the Palestinian struggle.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Nasri Abujaish, who is also the permanent representative to the AU, said he believes the bloc will continue condemning the U.S. move regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as a capital city of Israel and relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city.
"The position of the African Union is very clear. It has always supported Palestinian rights in the international arena," Abujaish added.
He said he doesn't receive any official confirmation over the Israeli media claims that representatives of the African countries will be attending the ceremony to celebrate the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
On Sunday, Israeli media reported that more than 10 African countries would be participating in the ceremony, hosted by Israeli Foreign Ministry, on the eve of the U.S. embassy’s relocation.
“I am hopeful that African countries were not part of this celebration," the Palestinian envoy said, and added: “African countries supported the UN condemnation of the U.S. decision.”
The U.S. intends to officially relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment in 1948 -- an event Palestinians refer to as the “Nakba” or the “The Catastrophe”.
Trump sparked international outcry last December when he unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and vowed to relocate Washington's embassy to the city.
Condemning the U.S. embassy’s relocation move, Abujaish said: "The U.S. and its President Donald Trump will be responsible for all violence and similar incidents which may happen in the region.”
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Palestine-Israel conflict, with Palestinians seeking East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
