Recognition of J'lem as Israel’s capital ‘illegal’: PLO

AMMAN

No party has the right to unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Palestinian National Council (PNC) said in a Monday statement.

Based in Jordan, the PNC is a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)-affiliated body responsible for formulating PLO policy.

Monday’s statement came in response to reports that some states were considering the relocation of their Israel embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Such a move, the PNC declares in its statement, would constitute “a violation of international resolutions calling on all states to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in the city of Jerusalem”.

It goes on to assert: “Whoever recognizes occupied Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli occupying state is considered a partner and protector of this colonial occupation and violates the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and successive resolutions… including [UN] Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016”.

On Sunday, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, while addressing members of the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, announced plans to relocate her country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Shortly afterward, however, Dancila was contradicted by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who said she was “ignorant” about foreign policy issues.

“The final decision about moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem rests with me,” he said in a statement. “The prime minister shows complete ignorance regarding foreign affairs.”

In 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

In May of last year, the U.S. officially relocated its embassy to the city, prompting Guatemala to follow suit shortly afterward.