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| The crisis of Jerusalem, Palestine Pulls its Representatives from the US |
Palestine withdrew its representatives from the United States. This diplomatic move was taken, a few weeks after President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki called home the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) envoy Husam Zomlot, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The reason, for 'consultation'.
Earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not accept any form of 'peace plan' offered by the US after Trump's controversial decision, as quoted by the BBC on Monday (1/1/2018).
The crisis of Jerusalem, Palestine Pulls its Representatives from the US
A number of violent protests have taken place in the Gaza Strip since Donald Trump claimed Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The United Nations has passed a resolution so that the US cancels the claim, post-ballot at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
In an emergency UN General Assembly session on Thursday, December 21, 2017, 128 of 193 nations opposed Trump's decision on Jerusalem. Only nine countries support, including Israel. Meanwhile, 35 others abstained.
About 13 Palestinians have been killed in violent incidents since Trump announced his decision on Jerusalem. Most of those who died from an open conflict with the Israeli army.
Jerusalem is at the heart of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Disputes over the holy city of the three religions are believed to have an impact on peace in the Middle East.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem, previously occupied by Jordan, in the 1967 Middle East war. Zionist land claims the territory as a whole as an inseparable capital.
The crisis of Jerusalem, Palestine Pulls its Representatives from the US
On the other hand, the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Many countries argue that the final status of Jerusalem must be determined by two countries' peace talks within the framework of two states solution.
Last Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Jerusalem "the eternal capital of the Palestinian people".
Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been internationally recognized. The majority of countries today keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.
However, President Trump, after claiming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ordered the US State Department to begin the process of relocating the Uncle Sam State embassy. The move was replicated by Guatemala.
10 Countries Will Move Embassy to Jerusalem?
The Israeli government says it has established communications with at least 10 countries over the possible transfer of their embassies to Jerusalem. It was revealed by the Land of Stars David on Monday, December 25, 2017.
"We have had dialogue with at least 10 countries, some of them European countries," said Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, as quoted by the South China Morning Post in December 2017.
The crisis of Jerusalem, Palestine Pulls its Representatives from the US
However, Hotovely did not name the 10 countries that had been persuaded by Israel to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Nevertheless, an anonymous Israeli diplomatic source mentions several names of countries that have been persuaded, among them; Honduras, the Philippines, Romania and South Sudan.
Hotovely believes US President Donald Trump's move to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will be followed by a number of other countries, including the 10 countries.