Key Takeaways
- Pakistan and 18 Muslim countries have condemned Colombia’s inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem.
- The move is seen as contravening UN Security Council resolutions and undermining peace efforts.
- Foreign ministers of the 19 countries issued a joint statement rejecting any measures altering Jerusalem’s status.
Pakistan and 18 other Muslim countries have jointly condemned Colombia’s decision to open its embassy in Jerusalem, a move they believe contravenes relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and undermines international efforts towards a just and lasting peace.
The decision by Colombia, under its new President Abelardo de la Espriella, to reverse its predecessor’s stance and restore a free trade agreement with Israel, including the inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem, has drawn strong criticism from the Muslim nations.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the foreign ministers of the 19 countries, including Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Turkiye, rejected any measure intended to alter the legal or historical status of occupied Jerusalem.
The statement cited UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, particularly Resolutions 476 and 478, adopted in 1980, which declared such measures as “null and void” and without legal effect.
The ministers emphasized that Jerusalem is part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967 and noted that the resolutions reject attempts to change the city’s character or status, calling on states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from it.
They urged the Colombian government to reconsider and reverse its decision, emphasizing the need to uphold obligations under international law and refrain from measures that prejudice the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The joint statement also reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people’s right to an independent and sovereign state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, aligning with the broader international stance on the issue.
The move by Colombia is seen as a significant shift in its foreign policy, particularly in light of its previous stance against recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
