Guatemala defends planned embassy move to Jerusalem

Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel says country ‘doing the right thing’ by following Trump’s lead, shaking off Palestinian criticism

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel defended on Tuesday her country’s “sovereign” decision to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“We are doing the right thing in accordance with the foreign policy that Guatemala has had toward Israel over the past 70 years,” Jovel said at a press conference.

The move is “a sovereign decision of Guatemalan foreign policy,” she said.

Morales told the AIPAC Policy Conference on Sunday night that he would move his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May, and that the relocation is due to take place two days after the United States moves its own embassy to the holy city, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC, March 4, 2018. (Courtesy)

“In May of this year, we will celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, and under my instructions two days after the US will move its embassy, Guatemala will return and permanently move its embassy to Jerusalem,” Morales said in Washington.

In 1959, Guatemala was the first country to open its embassy in Jerusalem, but later moved it to Tel Aviv, following international rejection of Israeli claims to East Jerusalem.

Trump bucked decades of US foreign policy by formally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December and setting in motion plans to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Earlier this month, the US said the move would take place to coincide with Israel’s 70th birthday.

US President Donald Trump signing a proclamation that the US government will formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, at the White House in Washington, DC, December 6, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via JTA)

Morales quickly followed Trump, making Guatemala the first country to do so.

The Palestinians have been fuming over Trump’s move. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials have refused to meet with members of the Trump administration since, including Vice President Mike Pence when he visited the region in January.

On Monday, Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Morales had “partnered with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in violating international law and undermining the chances of peace.”

Jovel said that she “respects the opinion” of countries opposing Guatemala’s decision.

Last week, a Guatemalan court rejected the request from a local lawyer to halt the move, arguing that it broke international law.