Most US Allies to Ignore Washington Embassy Move to Jerusalem

Rasa - Several European states declined the invitation to relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem for technical reasons or due to their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as hundreds of protesters marched to demonstrate against the planned move of Washington embassy.

News ID: 437669

Date: 13 May 2018 - 22:27

RNA - The Unites States decision to relocate embassy to Jerusalem was largely met with criticism with the European Union, although Austria, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic accepted the invitation to the opening ceremony. But, many European nations, including Germany, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Poland and Sweden were joined by Australia, Russia and Mexico in their decision to decline the invitation.

Tens of thousands are expected to protests the inauguration of the US Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, while another large-scale demonstrate is planned which marks the 70th anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe), in which over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes in 1948.

The black-and-white signs, written in English, Hebrew and Arabic, were installed along roads heading to a US consulate building. The consulate is set to be remodeled as the embassy when it formally opens on May 14.

The ceremony will be attended by US President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser, Ivanka, her husband, fellow presidential adviser Jared Kushner, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and other US officials.

Some 250 people are expected to attend the ceremony. Around 40 US lawmakers and members of pro-Israel groups are among those traveling to Palestine to open the US embassy in Israel, according to Axios.

The US President announced early December that Washington would be recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital, stressing that the United States would relocate the embassy in the occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

The move was hailed by Israel but condemned by the rest of the international community as one which undermines the peace talks.

Washington’s move has raised a chorus of outcry across the international community. The Muslim world, the UN, world leaders from Europe to the Middle East to Australia, and even US allies in the West have criticized the bid, saying it would plunge the already tumultuous region into new upheaval.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a statement issued following an extraordinary summit in Turkey's Istanbul, declared East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine "under occupation" and urged the US to withdraw from the peace process and back down from its Jerusalem decision.

According to Fars News Agancy, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution condemning US President’s decision and called on states not to move their diplomatic missions to the sacred city. Only nine countries voted directly against the resolution, while 56 others either abstained or did not cast a ballot. The UN resolution passed overwhelmingly in the body's General Assembly with 128 countries voting in favor of it.

The UNGA vote followed the US veto of a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution. All other UNSC members voted in favor of a motion to rescind Donald Trump’s move.

In response to the US President’s announcement, European Council President Donald Tusk reaffirmed the EU’s “firm commitment” to the two-state solution, emphasizing that the bloc’s position on Jerusalem remained unchanged.

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