Palestinian Authority denies receiving US assurances not to move embassy to Jerusalem

The strategic affairs adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday denied that the Palestinian Authority (PA) had received any assurances that the promised move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would not take place unilaterally.

“Until now, the Palestinian side did not receive anything from the Trump administration regarding the transfer of the embassy other than the stated US position,” Hossam Zumlot, the presidential strategic adviser, said in a telephone interview with Anadolu news agency.

“The only thing the Palestinian leadership knows is through White House spokesman Sean Spicer who told local media on Sunday that the US administration was in the initial stages of discussing the transfer of its embassy,” he added.

Zumlot said the Palestinian leadership was waiting for the US administration to hear their full position on the peace process in the Middle East.

“We are ready to deal with them in order to reach a solution in accordance with international law,” he said.

Zumlot pointed out that “Israel is using the international preoccupation with the issue of transferring the US embassy [to Jerusalem] and continues settlement construction in Jerusalem and the West Bank.”

Zumlot’s comments come after Arab media outlets had earlier reported Palestinian officials as saying that the Palestinian leadership has “received assurances from the US administration that it will not move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.”

During his election campaign, President Donald Trump promised to transfer the US’ diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would mean US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, something which is rejected by the United Nations and major world powers.