Palestine vows United Nations punishment for Guatemala’s Jerusalem decision

Trump announced his decision to move the USA embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in early December, a move that broke away from over 20-years of indecision from previous US presidents.

The Israeli minister noted that the decision taken by Donald Trump would trigger a wave of such moves. “So I inform you that I have instructed the chancellor to initiate the respective coordination so that it may happen”.

Previous excavations by Israel near the holy site – the spiritual epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – have sparked violent Palestinian protests.

He also said Guatemala had been a long-standing ally of Israel.

According to a report by the Agence France-Press, Israeli public radio cited Israeli diplomatic sources as saying that the Philippines was among the 10 countries considering moving its embassy to Jerusalem after talks with Israel. “There will, of course, be disagreement and dissent regarding this announcement”, Trump said in early December.

The announcement was quickly condemned by Palestinian leaders already angered by Mr Trump’s decision this month to overturn decades of U.S. policy on the city.

The proposed stop would be near the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, right in the middle of East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians envisage as their future capital.

Through a resolution, the assembly said that the Holy City “is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations in line with relevant United Nations resolutions”.

In a statement released this week, the U.S. revealed it would be slashing over NZ$300m in funding to the worldwide body, as well as more unspecified cuts to follow. Guatemala was one of nine nations that sided with the United States.

The proposal is likely to draw opposition from the global community, which does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over east Jerusalem and the Old City, an area within modern Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the singer Lorde has cancelled a performance in Israel scheduled for next summer after appeals by pro-Palestinian activists.