‘Relocating embassies in Jerusalem encourages occupation ’

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday condemned the relocation of the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammed Momani stressed that the move is a breach of the UN conventions and all relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

The measure is considered null and void, he said, as it lacks legal grounds due to the fact that East Jerusalem is an occupied land and is the capital of the Palestinian state.

The minister reiterated Jordan’s “unaltered stance that refuses moving any embassy in Israel to Jerusalem”, describing the relocation move as illegal and a unilateral measure that is condemned by Jordan and the majority of the world, underlining the vote when 128 countries rejected the US recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and plan to move the embassy to the occupied city at the UN General Assembly. 

Momani, who is also the government’s spokesperson, said that member states should support the UN General Assembly’s resolutions related to Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue rather than breach them and encourage occupation, violence and chaos.

The spokesperson urged commitment to the international legitimacy’s resolutions, first and foremost the UN Security Council’s resolution 478, which demands all states not to move their embassies to Jerusalem.

He said that such unilateral decisions are irresponsible and would entrench violence and chaos in the region.

Momani highlighted the importance of intensified global efforts towards a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with the relevant international legitimacy resolutions that guarantee the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the pre-1967 lines.

Paraguay is the third country to relocate its diplomatic mission to the occupied Jerusalem after the US and Guatemala.