Guatemala president tells AIPAC he’ll move embassy to Jerusalem in May

Guatemala president tells AIPAC he’ll move embassy to Jerusalem in May
https://www.timesofisrael.com/guatemala-president-tells-aipac-hell-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-in-may/?utm_source=guatemala-president-tells-aipac-hell-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-in-may&utm_medium=desktop-browser&utm_campaign=desktop-notifications
President Jimmy Morales tells 18,000 advocates in nation's capital embassy relocation will follow just two days after US on 70th anniversary of Israel's founding
By ERIC CORTELLESSA
Today, 1:34 am  
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC, March 4, 2018. (Courtesy)
WASHINGTON — Guatemala’s president told the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington on Sunday night that he has ordered his country’s embassy to be moved to Jerusalem in May, following just two days after the the United States in planning the relocation in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding.

“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,” President Jimmy Morales told a crowd of more than 18,000 gathered in the nation’s capital for the annual confab.

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“This decision strongly evidences Guatemala’s continued support of Israel,” he went on. “And we are sure that many other countries will follow in our steps.”

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.

US President Donald 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 there from Tel Aviv.

Morales said on Sunday night that Trump’s decision was an impetus for his. “I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way,” he said. “His courageous decision has encouraged us to do what is right.”

The Palestinians fumed 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.

Guatemala was the first nation after the US to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, on December 24, 2017.