05 March 2018•Update: 05 March 2018
By Qais Abu Samra
RAMALLAH, Palestine
The Ramallah-based Palestinian government has slammed a decision by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to transfer his country's Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In a Monday statement, the government called on Arab and Muslim countries to adopt a “firm stand” in opposition to the move.
“The Guatemalan decision violates the rules and principles of international law and resolutions adopted by the international community,” the statement read.
Earlier Monday, Morales announced his intention to relocate Guatemala’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem sometime in May.
The announcement came shortly after a meeting in Washington between the Guatemalan president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked outcry across the Arab and Muslim world after recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and vowing to relocate Washington’s embassy to the city.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Palestine-Israel conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
