Source: timesofisrael.com |
This week the Guatemalan President Jimmy Morale has announced
that Guatemala will move their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, two after
the US is scheduled to do the same, on May 16. In a contentious move that is
certain to attract worldwide condemnation.
On Sunday he announced the decision at the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference in Washington, USA.
"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,” Morales stated.
He has
taken action to discuss with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on initiating
the process to ensure that it is possible.
The
international community has refused recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the
entirety of Jerusalem, home to holy site to the Muslim, Christian and Jewish
religions and in December 2017, 128 countries supported a non-binding UN
General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to overturn its move.
Guatemala is
one of only few countries who pledged against the resolution, instead opting to
supports Trump’s decision.
It is
extremely likely that Morales was listening very closely to Trump’s threats to
cut off US financial assistance and aid to countries who choose not to work alongside
the US and their decisions to move multiple embassies to Jerusalem. By
succumbing towards a motion to that so severely defies international laws,
Morales has essentially revealed the realities of corruption and the abuse of
power embedded within international politics and motives.
Source: trtworld.com |
Not only has Morales followed Trump in voting against the UN resolution, he has worked to ensure the continuing support in an era where Trump is able to almost foreign aid before the eyes of politicians worldwide in order to guarantee that his demands are met.
Guatemala’s
President has since declared Trump’s decision as “courageous” and has even
thanked the US President for “leading the way” and encouraging him to make the “right
move”.
As of now,
Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are subject to systematic inequalities,
including the inequitable distribution of the city’s budget and services. In
addition, Palestinians residing in the West Bank are required to present a
special permit to visit the city’s holy sites, unlike Jewish Israelis.
Guatemala
has essentially followed the US into endorsing sole Israeli proprietorship over
Jerusalem, which is likely to add further insult to ongoing violence in the
West. People worldwide have called on the US, and will now call on Guatemala,
to retract their decisions in hopes to clarify Palestinian’ legitimate stake in
the future of Jerusalem.
Unfortunately
Netanyahu has suggested that following Guatemala’s pledge to support himself
and Trump, other countries will too shift their embassies to Jerusalem,
threatening the negotiated political framework that had once worked to end the
legal state of occupation and ensure the rights and respect for both the
Israelis and Palestinians of Jerusalem.
Thank you for reading!
Aman
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