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Erekat slams Czech FM visit to Jerusalem’s Old City

November 15, 2018 at 11:13 am

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Peteicek delivers a speech in Jerusalem on 14 November 2018 [Czech Embassy Tel Aviv/Twitter]

Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat yesterday criticised the visit of the Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Peteicek to the Old City of East Jerusalem, accompanied by Israeli officials.

Erekat called in a statement on the Czech Republic to abide by international law and the European Union’s position and not to contribute to the “illegal Judaisation and recognition of Jerusalem” as the capital of Israel.

“In a precedent for a European Union minister, the Czech foreign minister violated the position of the Czech Foreign Ministry, which affirmed its unequivocal commitment to the international consensus on East Jerusalem as an occupied city since 1967 and blatantly violated the rules of international law and legality,” Erekat said.

He added that “the visit contributes to the promotion of the Israeli colonial project in Jerusalem and illegal annexation of the city”.

In April, Czech President Milos Zeman announced his country’s intention to open a consulate and a cultural centre in Jerusalem as well as transferring its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

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