Arab League condemns Czech Republic’s opening of embassy office in Jerusalem

Cairo (QNN)- The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit condemned today the Czech Republic’s opening of an embassy office in Jerusalem, saying this contradicts international law and the established European policy.
In a statement, Aboul-Gheit emphasized that this behavior does not help peacemaking and violates Palestinian rights in the occupied city of Jerusalem.
He also stressed that the move comes in contradiction to international law and the established European policy on this issue.
He emphasized that the opening of the Czech Republic’s representative office in Jerusalem violates the UN Security Council Resolution No. 478 of 1980, which prohibits the establishment of diplomatic missions in the occupied city.
Aboul-Gheit added that Jerusalem is one of the final status negotiation issues, stressing that its fate cannot be decided through unilateral measures.
He noted that the legal status of Jerusalem cannot be affected by such decisions, affirming that East Jerusalem is an occupied territory under international law.
Last Tuesday, the Czech Republic opened a diplomatic office in Jerusalem, affiliated to its embassy in Tel Aviv, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
“We keep our promise,” said Babis.
“The Czech Republic will have a full-fledged diplomatic mission here in Jerusalem. It will deal with a lot — ranging from politics, economic cooperation, consular agenda, and other topics. It will have a permanent staff and work under the lead of our embassy in Tel Aviv.”
“I am happy to see that the changes in the Middle East are based on a recognition of the reality and historical truth that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The Czech Republic is a close friend of Israel, and we work together in many different fields,” said Ashkenazi.
The Czech foreign ministry announced its plans to open the mission in December.
The Czech Republic is the second European Union member state, after Hungary, to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.
European Union member states had refused to move their embassies to Jerusalem pending a final agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians on the issue of the holy city.
Palestinian officails oppose the step and have called on the Czech Republic to reverse the decision.