PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat, on Monday, said that by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving its embassy thereto, the Trump administration is violating its obligations under international law, including UNSCR 478, and America’s own commitments towards the peace process.
“As Washington pursues a policy of encouragement of international anarchy and disregard for organizations and international law, we call upon all diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and religious authorities to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, lest they lend legitimacy to an illegal decision and to continued Israeli policies of occupation, colonization, and annexation,” Erekat said in an official statement.
Erekat said that this move is not only illegal but will also thwart the achievement of a just and lasting peace between two sovereign and democratic states on the 1967 borders, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.
He finished by saying that those who attend the ceremony will thus be sending an ominous message, a message that they encourage flagrant violations of international law and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
PNN further reports that Israeli authorities, on Monday, began putting up road signs in the occupied city of Jerusalem, which reads “The American Embassy”, in preparation for its opening, next week, in synchronization with the Palestinian Nakba Day and the Israeli Day of Independence.
According to eyewitnesses, three signs were placed on one of the Jerusalem roads in English, Hebrew and Arabic.
The signs were placed near a building of the US consulate south of Jerusalem, which appears to be the embassy’s headquarters, as it will be officially moved on May 14.
