When Trump promise to
recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital, wall of Mexico, travel ban on some Islamic
states, and abolish of same sex marriage during his campaign they thought he
was joking. When he recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel they rush to UN
to vote against the recognition and when he finally move US embassy to
Jerusalem they organize UN security meting but the strong man of the strongest
nation keep on moving without fear of favour or intimidation.
Guatemala inaugurated its Israel embassy in Jerusalem on
Wednesday, becoming the first country to follow in the footsteps of the United
States’ deeply controversial move that was accompanied by deadly violence on
the Gaza border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Guatemalan
President Jimmy Morales were among officials who attended a ceremony
inaugurating the new embassy at an office park in the disputed city, which is
at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The US and Guatemalan moves break with decades of international
consensus. US ambassador to Israel David Friedman also attended Wednesday’s
ceremony.
So far the only other nation with immediate plans to open an
Israel embassy in Jerusalem is Paraguay, expected to do so before the end of
the month.
Netanyahu profusely praised Guatemala for making the move and
noted it came only two days after the United States opened its embassy in
Jerusalem.
The Israeli premier spoke of Guatemala’s early recognition of
the state of Israel after its creation in 1948 and said he would visit the
country of 16 million on his next visit to Latin America.
“I look forward to assessing with you the practical ways… that
we can advance this friendship and this alliance,” Netanyahu said.
“But today, I just want to say how delighted we are to have
you.”
Morales called it a “transcendental moment for future
generations” who will “remember that friendly countries took courageous
decisions in favour of Israel and we do this because you have a special place
in our hearts.”
The US embassy move on Monday was accompanied by mass protests
and clashes along the Gaza border that saw Israeli forces kill some 60
Palestinians.
Israel has faced international criticism over its use of live
fire against demonstrators.
It says its actions are necessary to defend the border and stop
mass infiltrations from the Palestinian enclave, which is run by Islamist
movement Hamas.
On Monday, tens of thousands had gathered near the border while
smaller numbers of stone-throwing Palestinians approached the fence and sought
to break through, with Israeli snipers positioned on the other side.
Most of those killed were shot by Israeli snipers, the Gazan
health ministry said, in the bloodiest day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
since a 2014 Gaza war.
Israel’s army said “it appears that at least 24” of those killed
were militants, mainly from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
It said explosive devices and firebombs were used, while Israeli
soldiers were also shot at.
But there were numerous calls for an independent investigation
into the deaths, with Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium among those
supporting such action.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the European Union
have previously called for an independent probe, with 116 Palestinians killed
by Israeli forces since a campaign of protests on the Gaza-Israel border was
launched on March 30.
Morales’s decision to move Guatemala’s embassy has been seen as
partly influenced by his evangelical religious beliefs.
Evangelicals want to see Jews rebuild their temple in Jerusalem,
which according to their beliefs would facilitate the second coming of Christ.
The move is also seen by some as a gesture to elicit US support
at a time when Morales stands accused by Guatemalan prosecutors of accepting
illegal campaign contributions.
Former Guatemalan foreign minister Gabriel Orellana has said
Morales’s embassy move has the effect of banishing his country “to the fringes
of the United Nations”.
Jerusalem’s status is perhaps the thorniest issue in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the
Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967 and
later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognized by the international
community.
Post a Comment