Amnesty slams Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem as ‘reckless and provocative’

Amnesty International has slammed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington is officially recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and will be relocating the embassy from Tel Aviv.

“This is a reckless and provocative decision by the Trump administration that further undermines the human rights of the Palestinian people and is likely to inflame tensions across the region,” Raed Jarrar, Amnesty International USA’s Middle East Advocacy director, said.

By recognising unified Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announcing the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv, President Trump has shown yet again his blatant disregard for international law.

The senior Amnesty official noted that “there is international consensus, including UN Security Council resolutions, on the illegality of Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem”.

READ: Trump’s move on Jerusalem: Is this the end of US diplomacy in the Middle East?

“With this move, the United States is violating its own international legal obligations not to recognise or assist an illegal situation and to ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions.”

Jarrar continued: “No country in the world recognises Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, making the decision to confer US recognition deeply troubling.”

“Not only does this decision contribute to undermining the international rule of law, it also shows a total disregard for mass human rights violations that Palestinians are facing as a result of Israel’s annexation policies.”

READ: Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israeli capital

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, “are universally acknowledged to be occupied territory, where international humanitarian law is applicable”, Amnesty stated.

“Israel’s illegal annexation of occupied East Jerusalem was formalised in domestic law in 1980. It has been repeatedly condemned by the international community through various UN Security Council resolutions.”