Palestine recalls ambassadors to 4 European states

RAMALLAH (AA) - Palestine on Wednesday recalled its ambassadors to four European states after diplomats from those states reportedly took part in celebrations marking the relocation of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“The [Palestinian] Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday recalled its ambassadors to Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria for consultations,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the participation of diplomats from these four countries in recent celebrations in Jerusalem “is a violation of international law and past UN resolutions, which confirm that Jerusalem is occupied territory and which forbid countries from establishing embassies there”.

On Monday, the U.S. officially relocated its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, drawing widespread condemnation and protest from across the Arab and Muslim world.

The following day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded to the move by recalling Hossam Zomlot, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s delegation in Washington.