A general view of Jerusalem shows the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem's Old City on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount December 6, 2017.. (photo credit: REUTERS)

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit urged Guatemala to cancel its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem on Thursday, according to the official Palestinian Authority news site Wafa.



In an urgent letter to Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales, Aboul-Gheit expressed his dissatisfaction with the president's decision to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Spokesman for the Secretary-General Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement.

Guatemala was one of a handful of countries that backed a UN vote on US President Donald Trump's December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.Last Sunday, President Morales confirmed at AIPAC that the embassy would move to Jerusalem two days after the United States, in mid-May. Palestinians fumed as the Guatemalan ambassador Sara Castaneda toured Jerusalem on Monday, looking at properties for the future embassy.The status of Jerusalem is one of the biggest obstacles to any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who want east Jerusalem as their capital.The Arab League had expected that Guatemala would seek to value their political, economic and cultural bilateral cooperation and uphold international law and justice, Spokesman Afifi said in his Thursday statement.However, he emphasized that the Arabs were willing to maintain friendly relations with Guatemala and avoid any actions that could harm such relations in the future.Reuters contributed to this report.

var cont = `Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>>



`; document.getElementById("linkPremium").innerHTML = cont; (function (v, i){ });</s>Moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a "in accordance" with Guatemala's foreign policy toward Israel, Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel said (AFP Photo/Johan ORDONEZ)

Guatemala City (AFP) - Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel defended Tuesday her country's "sovereign" decision to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"We are doing the right thing in accordance with the foreign policy that Guatemala has had toward Israel over the past 70 years," Jovel said at a press conference.

The controversial move is "a sovereign decision of Guatemalan foreign policy," she said.

President Jimmy Morales told a cheering crowd at the annual meeting of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby in Washington on Sunday that Guatemala's mission would be moved "two days after the United States moves its embassy" to Jerusalem.

The White House plans to open its new facility in Jerusalem on May 14, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israel's creation. Guatemala's embassy would therefore move on May 16.

Trump's decision in December to transfer the US embassy to the disputed city has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics saying it damages hopes for a negotiated Middle East peace.

Morales quickly followed Trump, making Guatemala the first country to do so.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians see the eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

The international consensus has long been that the city's status should be settled as part of a two-state peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Only seven small countries -- including Guatemala and Honduras -- sided with the United States and Israel on a non-binding December 21 UN General Assembly resolution rejecting Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Jovel said that she "respects the opinion" of countries opposing Guatemala's decision.

Last week, a Guatemalan court rejected the request from a local lawyer to halt the move, arguing that it broke international law.</s>The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit urged Guatemala to cancel its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem on Thursday, according to the official Palestinian Authority news site Wafa.



In an urgent letter to Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Aboul-Gheit expressed his dissatisfaction with the president's decision to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Spokesman for the Secretary-General Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement.





Guatemala was one of a handful of countries that backed a UN vote on US President Donald Trump's December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.Last Sunday, President Morales confirmed at AIPAC that the embassy would move to Jerusalem two days after the United States, in mid-May and Palestinians were fuming as the Guatemalan ambassador Sara Castaneda toured Jerusalem on Monday, looking at properties for the future embassy.The status of Jerusalem is one of the biggest obstacles to any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who want east Jerusalem as their capital.The Arab League had expected that Guatemala would seek to value their political, economic and cultural bilateral cooperation and uphold international law and justice, Spokesman Afifi said in his Thursday statement.However, he emphasized that the Arabs were willing to maintain friendly relations with Guatemala and avoid any actions that could harm such relations in the future.Reuters contributed to this report.</s>Pretty much the entire planet, in a United Nations General Assembly resolution, slammed the US’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and its accompanying threat to cancel any US foreign aid to those countries who don’t agree with the the move.

Jimmy Morales, the Guatemalan president, announced plans to move the Guatemalan embassy to Jerusalem in solidarity with the move that the United States decided back in December.

At the United Nations, where 128 nations condemned the action, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley threatened any UN member nations that voted in accord with the UN resolution, which was followed up by a threat from the US President himself to cancel foreign aid to those nations, whose names were taken down by Haley. Euronews reports:

Guatemala is the first country to follow the US lead in relocating its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. It’s a controversial move, not just because it runs counter to a non-binding UN resolution, but because the international community has never recognized Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem. Guatemala has announced that it will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in May. President Jimmy Morales is following the lead of US President Donald Trump, who, back in December, announced plans to relocate his country’s embassy to the city. “I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way. His courageous decision has encouraged us to do what is right.” Trump’s stance provoked international condemnation, with 128 countries signing up to a non-binding UN resolution calling for the US to drop its recognition of Jerusalem. What is all the fuss about? Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, and runs its government from the city. However, Palestinians also stake a claim in East Jerusalem, which was annexed by its neighbour and rival after the 1967 war. Wanting to defuse tensions in the region, the international community has tended to sidestep the issue, often basing their embassies in the financial centre of Tel Aviv instead. Donald Trump’s decision is widely perceived as an endorsement of Israel’s claims, and is likely to be a significant obstacle to any peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The cynics would say that Guatemala’s dependence on US aid lies behind its following of the US lead on Jerusalem. Donald Trump has threatened to cut off aid to countries that supported the UN resolution against it. Today, Secretary Tillerson met President @JimmyMoralesGt to discuss progress on countering narcotics trafficking, #Guatemala’s support for US positions at the @UN, and reaffirm @usembassyguate‘s support for President Morales’ anti-corruption efforts. pic.twitter.com/MUXsCssyUh However, President Morales said that his decision “strongly evidences Guatemala’s continued support and solidarity with the people of Israel”. In January a local Guatemalan lawyer, Marco Vinicio Mejia, challenged his President’s decision in the courts. However, the high court’s five magistrates turned down his petition, clearing the way for the move. When the news broke, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Jimmy Morales for his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. An excellent meeting with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales. I thanked him for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. I hope soon the Guatemalan embassy will move to Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/MyZzDbjM4C It is believed that Honduras may soon follow the lead of its fellow South-American country.

The embassy move is supposed to take place two days following the US’s embassy move in mid May. Meanwhile, the Guatemalan ambassador, Sara Castenada, has been touring Jerusalem for an appropriate property to be acquired for that purpose.

The Latin American nation once held an embassy in Jerusalem, but withdrew it to Tel Aviv in accordance with a United Nations Security Council Resolution in 1980.

This action on the part of the Guatemalan government of course drew the thanks of the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, at a meeting with Morales in Guatemala City, as well as the gratitude of the US President Donald Trump, who expressed this sentiment during a meeting in Washington back in early February.

The Palestinians, on the other hand, condemn the choice of the Guatemalan government in making such a move. Palestinian legislator, scholar, and PLO Executive Committee member Hana Ashrawi vocally condemned the move as the Palestine News Network reports:

PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi has condemned the “dangerous and provocative” announcement made by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales at AIPAC’s annual conference to relocate the embassy of Guatemala from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “By taking such a step that defies international law, Mr. Morales, also besieged at home by charges of corruption and abuse of power, has partnered with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S President Donald Trump in violating international law and undermining the chances of peace,” Ashrawi said in an official statement. Ashrawi urged the international community, Arab and Islamic states “to intervene and hold the Israeli occupation and its partners to account for such flagrant violations and provocative actions that fuel the flames in an already volatile situation.”

This action, more than almost anything, demonstrates just how dependent the Latin American nation has become on US foreign aid. When Washington announced its intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem, Guatemala wasted no time in praising the action and announcing that it would follow suit.

President Trump’s threat of cancelling financial aid to dissenters seems to not even have been necessary to prompt such pandering from Guatemala, but which would have acted more as an assurance that Washington’s pets would not cross their boundaries. With such economic dependence, it is no wonder that when Washington says “jump”, Guatemala asks “how high?”

Buy us a coffee! ☕ Every Dollar, Pound and Euro you send us helps our publication stay active, reach more people and to continue to shed light on the social-political issues of our time. Will you help expose the lies of the mainstream media? As a reader of The Duran, you are well aware of all the propaganda and disinformation reported by the mainstream media. You know how important it is to bring real news to light. Please support The Duran and help us keep reporting on news that is fair, balanced, and real.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Guatemala will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May, two days after the U.S. embassy makes the same move, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said on Sunday at a conference in Washington.

“I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way. His courageous decision has encouraged us to do what is right,” Morales said in a speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference, according to a translation of his remarks on the pro-Israel U.S. lobbying group’s website.

Guatemala was one of only a handful of countries that backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s December decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and it is the first country besides the United States to set a date for moving its embassy there. Trump’s move reversed decades of U.S. policy, upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.

Afterward, 128 countries defied Trump by backing a non-binding U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to forging a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as their capital.

The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions.

The United States is an important source of assistance to Guatemala, and Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that supported the U.N. resolution.

Prior to 1980, Guatemala and a dozen other countries maintained an embassy in Jerusalem. Israel’s passage in June 1980 of a law proclaiming Jerusalem its “indivisible and eternal capital” led to a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Guatemala and several other countries to move their embassies to Tel Aviv, prompting their transfer.

Morales said his decision to return the Guatemalan embassy to Jerusalem “strongly evidences Guatemala’s continued support and solidarity with the people of Israel.”

Morales, a former television comedian with an important base of conservative Christian support in the Central American country, became embroiled earlier this year in a dispute with the United Nations when a U.N.-backed anti-corruption body in Guatemala tried to impeach him.

Although Morales avoided impeachment, he failed in an attempt to expel the head of the body, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, after criticism from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.</s>Guatemala is following in Donald Trump's footsteps by deciding to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The central American country announced on Sunday (4 March) that the move will take place in May, just two days after the US relocates its embassy to Jerusalem.

"As a sovereign decision, we recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's conference in Washington DC.

"In May of this year, we will celebrate Israel's 70th anniversary, and under my instructions, two days after the United States moves its embassy, Guatemala will return and permanently move its embassy to Jerusalem," he said.

"I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way. His courageous decision has encouraged us to do what is right," Morales added.

His comments were greeted with resounding applause. Guatemala is among a mere handful of countries to openly support Trump's controversial embassy move and vote against a UN resolution condemning the relocation.

Trump's threat to cut off all financial assistance to countries that voted against the resolution may have influenced the Guatemalan government which relies heavily on US aid.

The decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem overturned seven decades of US foreign policy that has resisted recognising the holy city as Israel's capital before the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been resolved.

The US president's announcement in December was met with worldwide dismay and sparked violence in the Gaza strip and across the West Bank,

Criticism was echoed around the world, with many world leaders and Pope Francis expressing concern.

The pope said he was "profoundly concerned" about recent developments, describing Jerusalem as a city with a status quo that everyone respects.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the move would "play into the hands of terror groups" and said Turkey could respond by cutting diplomatic ties with Israel.</s>Israel helped the Guatemalan military juntas during the genocide against the Mayan people in the 1980s.President Guatemala Jimmy Morales said Sunday his country will return their embassy to Jerusalem on May 16, in support of the United States decision to do the same,"We've ordered that Guatemala returns and permanently moves its embassy to Jerusalem two days after the United States of America moves its embassy," said Morales during his speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual meeting in Washington Sunday, to which he was invited after Guatemala's support for Israel.Morales thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for "leading the way," and said "his brave decision" guided them to make "the right thing." The Guatemalan government backed the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital shortly after it was announced in December 2017.Guatemala and Honduras were the only Latin American countries in supporting U.S. decision to move their embassy from Tel Aviv, the Israeli city where all the embassies are currently located, to Jerusalem, where the Palestinian east side of the city is illegally occupied by the Israeli state.In December 2017, Morales said that"Today I held a pleasant meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, who thanked our decision of moving Guatemala's embassy to Jerusalem. The alliance between the people of Israel and Guatemala is stronger than even. Blessings," Morales said Sunday afternoon on his twitter account.Taking a look at the history of the ties between the two countries, his comments do prove accurate. In the early 1980s theBetween 1954 and 1996, the Guatemalan juntas killed more than 200,000 people, 83 percent of which were Indigenous Mayans,Even though thousands of Mayans were killed during the Guatemalan Civil War, the period known as the "Mayan Genocide" which lasted from 1981 to 1983 is when Israel-Guatemala military collaborations peaked.In 1982, the General Efrain Rios Montt came to power after a military coup, becoming president between 1982 and 1983. During an interview with ABC News, Rios Montt said the coup had easily succeeded becauseThe Israeli press also reported that about 300 military advisers were on the ground training Rios Montt's troops at that time.who was an Israeli adviser in Guatemala during Rios Montt military regime, had reportedly saidas reported in the Dangerous Liaison book by Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.Rios Montt is currently on trial after his original sentence on genocide and crimes against humanity was revoked due to mistakes in the judicial process in 2013.Now, Morales claims that Guatemala and Israel have common interests, such as fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, border security and respect for human rights.Before being the president of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales (born as "James") was known for his racist commentary. He used to be a comedy actor known for racist and snob acts such as "Black Pitaya," in which he painted his face black, and impersonating other characters depicting lower class people as ignorant and dumb.</s>Alwaght-Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki has slammed the Arab states’ apathy towards the Palestinian conflict over the past decades, noting that their failure to take concrete actions encouraged the United States to continue its "unfortunate approach" and declare al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of the Israeli entity.

“Our failure has also given a small country like Guatemala the green light to decide to relocate its embassy to al-Quds,” Maliki told Palestine’s official WAFA news agency on Thursday.

He added that Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel would not reverse her decision to move her country’s diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, “simply because she is fully aware that Arab countries do not have any means to pressure Guatemala to overturn its measure.”

“Guatemala’s impertinence stems only from the fact that Arabs have failed to execute any of the decisions that they have taken for so many years. If we are unable to carry out such decisions, how could we prevent Guatemala or any other country from taking such a step on al-Quds,” Maliki pointed out.

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed a new wave of tension ever since Trump announced his decision on December 6 last year to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied territories and across the Muslim world.</s>The failure of Arab states to implement Arab League decisions has encouraged the United States to hold on to its “baseless” decision regarding Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said on Thursday.



Maliki made the statement following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.





“Our failure, as Arab states, to implement our decisions throughout the past many years has encouraged the United States to continue with its errant program and baseless decision regarding Jerusalem,” Maliki told the official PA news site Wafa.In early December, President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and initiated the relocation of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to the city, breaking with decades of American policy and infuriating many Palestinians.Maliki specifically said the failure of Arab states to enforce a 1980 Arab League summit decision about Jerusalem has given the US confidence to continue standing behind its new policies on Jerusalem.At the 1980 meeting in Amman, Arab states declared they would “sever all ties with states that transfer their embassies to Jerusalem or recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”While Arab states have condemned the Trump administration for its Jerusalem moves, none of them has implemented the 1980 Arab League summit decision.In fact, a number of Arab leaders have continued to meet and arrange meetings with Trump administration officials.In January, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah met US Vice President Mike Pence when the Pence visited their countries. In addition, later this month, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman will reportedly meet with Trump in Washington.Maliki also said the failure to implement the 1980 Arab League decision about Jerusalem has also encouraged Guatemala to move its embassy to the city.In a Facebook post in late December, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced his intention to relocate the Guatemalan Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.</s>New York[U.S.], June 2 (ANI): President Donald Trump has signed the waiver keeping the US embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, thus avoiding the initiative of moving it to a controversial location Jerusalem.

 Trump failed to keep the promise he made during 2016 election campaign.

 The move, which the White House said, was made in an effort to spur peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials.

 President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America's national security interests," the White House statement said. "But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when,"CNN reported.

 However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel has been "disappointed" with Trump's decision to postpone the moving of the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

 The statement further accused Trump's decision of breaking his campaign promise and driving peace away.

 "Israel's consistent position is that the American embassy, like the embassies of all countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, should be in Jerusalem, our eternal capital," the Prime Minister said.

 Ambassador Dr. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian representative to the United States, said the Trump policy "gives peace a chance."

 The President also promised Israeli ambassador Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian representative to the United States, said the Trump policy "gives peace a chance."

 "We are ready to to start the consultation process with the US administration," Zomlot said. "We are serious and genuine about achieving a just and lasting peace." (ANI)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit demands Guatemala reverse its decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Sandra Jovel says the move is "irreversible."