Embassy of the State of Palestine

This is an extremely important issue for the Palestinian people, and for Muslim and Christian people all over the world, namely the expected measures to be taken by the United States administration with regard to Jerusalem.

First, let me refer to the fact that 1995 American law has entered into force for two days already.

Secondly, President Trump did inform President Abbas of the general direction of the position and measures to be taken by the US administration. He also informed several Arab leaders about the development. You might add to that, the fact that several American officials have made statements on the same subject, thus, we already know the nature of the US position that requires in our opinion a clear and strong Palestinian position that will lead an Arab-Islamic position— as well as positions by all those who believe in international law and the necessity of achieving a peace settlement in the Middle East.

In our mind, any position that would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, any position that would move an embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, whether immediately or in a while because of logistical consideration — any position of this kind is absolutely unacceptable. It does represent a departure, a very serious departure from established American positions that were followed and adopted by successive American administrations. 

It will represent a grave violation of international law including, let me refer in particularly to the Fourth Geneva Convention,  the charter of the United Nations to Security Council Resolutions. The most recent of which is 2334 of December 2016.

It will represent a violation of International agreements to which the United States was a party, including the DOP, Oslo Agreements in general that refers to the status of Jerusalem to bilateral negotiations within the framework of peace negotiations or peace process. That of course means that the United States is giving up and violating this kind of International agreement.

Also, it will represent an assault to the national rights of the Palestinian people including their right to having Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. And an assault on the rights of Muslims around the world as well as an assault on Christians all over the world.

Any such American position is not acceptable.

We in Fatah are calling for specific action in response to the expected American position and measure. We specifically call for considering the United States action as annulling its status as co-sponsor of any peace, political process in the region. The United States, effectively, through such action is neutralizing its role and disqualifying itself from playing such an important role.

There should be a complaint file to the Security Council on the dangerous violations committed by the United States in terms of Security Council resolutions. By the same token, we believe that there should be a draft resolution presented to the council, one that expresses rejections to this step, and one that asks for descending of the step and ask for compliance by the United States to the relevant Security Councilresolutions. 

We should also push for the adoption of several positions by the league of Arab states, the Islamic Cooperation Organization, the Nonaligned Movement and by other regional and political groups around the world. We also call for the adoption of similar positions by States in terms of their relationship with the United States of America. 

I did speak in Arabic about the anger felt by the Palestinian people, by Arabs by Muslims by Christians around the world and I did speak of the necessity to participate in these activities and to direct this in a peaceful and an unarmed sustainable way so that would lead to serving the Palestinian national cause in this regard.