Palestine Sues US at ICJ over Embassy Relocation

TEHRAN (defapress) – Palestine filed a complaint against the United States with the United Nations top court over Washington's decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (al-Quds).

News ID: 72768

Date: 30 September 2018 - 12:15

In a recent statement, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Palestine contends the embassy's relocation is in breach of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday.

In its application, Palestine argued that the treaty dictates embassies must be established on the territory of the receiving state and that the "special status of Jerusalem" means that the US violated its international obligations when it moved its embassy.

According to the statement, Palestine asked the court to declare the move illegal as well as order the US to withdraw the embassy from Jerusalem.

On Saturday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the complaint "comes in line with the policy of the State of Palestine, which aims to preserve the character of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions".

"We defend our rights and our people without hesitation and reject all forms of political and financial extortion," he said.

US President Donald Trump announced the relocation of the American embassy in December, sparking international outrage.

Decisions by the ICJ are binding, but the court has no power to enforce them and countries, including the United States, have in the past ignored its rulings.

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