Saudi Arabia condemned on Wednesday Colombia’s opening of its embassy in Jerusalem.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said the Kingdom deemed the move “a flagrant violation of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions and a direct infringement of the legal and historical status of the occupied city.”
“The Kingdom stresses that this step contradicts the established international position regarding the legal and historical status of Jerusalem,” it added.
“It reiterates its call to the international community, including the UN Security Council and all concerned parties, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and to take urgent action to halt the illegal Israeli policies aimed at imposing a new reality by force and undermining prospects for achieving a just and lasting peace,” it said.
The Arab League also condemned Colombia’s move, describing it as a violation of relevant international resolutions. It said the move disregards the legal and political status of East Jerusalem, which is part of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and the capital of the State of Palestine.
It warned of the repercussions of the move, which was taken despite repeated warnings and communications with the Colombian side.
The decision runs counter to the international consensus on Jerusalem and infringes upon the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, it added.
The legal status of Jerusalem cannot be altered through unilateral measures or diplomatic decisions that violate international law, it declared.
It cited UN Security Council Resolution 478, which rejected measures aimed at altering the character and status of Jerusalem and called on states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city.
It also cited Resolution 2334, which affirmed that changes to the June 4, 1967 borders, including those concerning Jerusalem, would not be recognized unless agreed upon by the parties through negotiations.
The Arab League stressed that relevant international resolutions, including those of the UN General Assembly, form the basis for addressing the issue of Jerusalem.
“Unilateral measures affecting the city's legal or political status undermine peace efforts and weaken prospects for a just and lasting settlement based on the two-state solution,” it warned.
The Arab League called on Colombia to reconsider and reverse its decision and adhere to the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and relevant international resolutions. It emphasized that respecting Jerusalem's legal status is an international responsibility and that unilateral measures serve neither peace nor stability.
