Jordan condemns Guatemala embassy relocation to Jerusalem

Jordan

Published: 2018-05-16 14:56

Last Updated: 2024-03-26 15:08


The Minister of State for Media Affairs, Mohammad Al Momani
The Minister of State for Media Affairs, Mohammad Al Momani

The Jordanian government condemned Guatemala’s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Wednesday morning.

The Central American country was the second nation, after the US, to recognize the State of Israel in May 1948.

The Minister of State for Media Affairs, Mohammad Al Momani, said that Guatemala's relocation of its embassy is a violation of international laws and of the United Nations’ resolutions, in particular of the most recent resolution, which rejected US President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Al Momani described Guatemala’s decision as "irresponsible," adding that it will lead to more violence in the area, while once again confirming Jordan's non-acceptance of this step as their role of custodian of Jerusalem holy sites.

Guatemala is the second country to move its embassy to Jerusalem after the US, who held an opening ceremony for their new embassy on Monday.

During the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “this is the beginning of something extraordinary, or I would say, the re-beginning of something extraordinary, which is the relationship between Guatemala and Israel."