Arab Parl. urges Brazil, Czechia to revert embassy move

By Mohammed Mahmoud

CAIRO (AA) - The Arab Parliament on Tuesday called on Brazil and the Czech Republic not to relocate their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The call came in a resolution on Palestine adopted following the parliament's Tuesday session at the headquarters of the Arab League's General Secretariat in Cairo.

In the same resolution, the parliament called for "doing something" to deter Brazil and the Czech Republic from their intentions to relocate their embassies.

In November, Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro announced his intention to relocate his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, while the Czech Republic announced the same intention months ago.

The parliament also decided to address its counterparts in Brazil and Czech Republic with a view to making them exert pressure on their governments to revert the move.

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked an international outcry by announcing plans to move Washington’s Israel Embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as Israel’s capital.

The Palestinian Authority has rejected any U.S. mediation since Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.