Arab League: Countries that move embassies to Jerusalem risk relations with Arab world

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned countries against moving their embassies to the occupied city of Jerusalem, saying they risk their relations with the Arab world.

The official’s spokesperson, Ambassador Mahmoud Afifi, said: “Countries that wish to please the United States and Israel by announcing the transfer of their embassies to Jerusalem are involved in a serious violation of international law which considers Jerusalem territory occupied in 1967.”

“The embassies’ transfer is illegal and does not change this situation, and does not earn the occupation any legal status,” he added.

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Afifi said the secretary-general rejects the announcement made by the president of Honduras and prime minister of Romania on their intention to transfer their countries’ embassies to Jerusalem.

Afifi noted that in the case of Romania, it seems that the decision to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem was based on the prime minister’s personal judgement and that the Romanian president had a different opinion based on his understanding of the negative consequences.

“Some countries took similar steps like the Republic of Paraguay but had to change their position after careful consideration of its negative and serious consequences,” Afifi said, calling on Honduras and Romania to also review their positions.