Palestine to Fight Guatemala's 'Hostile' Move to Jerusalem

Guatemala's decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem is "hostile" and "illegal," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said on Monday as eight other countries debate relocating their own diplomatic outposts in Israel.

RELATED: 

Following Trump's Trail, Guatemala to Move Embassy to Jerusalem

"The state of Palestine considers this as a flagrant act of hostility against the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and international law," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Guatemala's decision goes completely against the wishes of church leaders.

"The state of Palestine will act with regional and international partners to oppose this illegal decision."

Majdi al-Khalidi, adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "According to the UN General Assembly's decision, no country has the right to move its embassy to Jerusalem or recognize the city as Israel's capital.

"All decisions to move embassies to Jerusalem are null and void and illegal."

Almost immediately after two-thirds of United Nations member states voted to ignore U.S. threats of financial sanctions and reject President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, Guatemala announced it would follow suit.

Subsequent announcements indicate that at least eight other nations are also considering extracting their embassies from Tel-Aviv.

Among those is Guatemala's neighbor, Honduras, which voted against the UN resolution. Paraguay in Latin America, Togo in West Africa, Romania and Slovakia are also debating a similar gesture.

RELATED: 
World Leaders Condemn US Decision Over Jerusalem, Call it 'Bullying,' 'Authoritarian'

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has already taken to Twitter to criticise the announcement by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales.

"We reject #Guatemala decision to move embassy to #Jerusalem & condemn it as absurd provocation, violation of international law," Safadi wrote. 

"Occupied Jerusalem is capital of #Palestinian state which must be established on June 4 1967 lines on basis of 2-state solution as only path to peace."

Morales explained that, because the Guatemalan embassy was located in Jerusalem until 1980, the move would technically be more like a return.

In response, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin wrote that the announcement is welcome and that Israel is grateful for the gesture of support. He also said he expects more nations will follow.