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Guatemala Announces it Will Move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

Guatemala Announces it Will Move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

Monday, 25 December, 2017 - 11:00
Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales. (Reuters)

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced on Monday that his country will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.


His move comes days after he voiced before the United Nations General Assembly his government’s support for Washington’s move to recognize the city as the capital of Israel.


Guatemala was only one out of nine countries that voted in favor of the US decision.


The General Assembly had overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution denouncing US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.


In a post on his official Facebook account Sunday, Morales said that after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he decided to instruct Guatemala's foreign ministry to move the embassy.


The resolution passed by the General Assembly declared the US action on Jerusalem "null and void."


The 128-9 vote was a victory for Palestinians, but fell short of the total they had predicted. Thirty-five nations abstained and 21 stayed away from the vote.


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