“Null and void.” 19 Arab and Islamic countries condemn Colombia’s opening of its embassy in Jerusalem

The foreign ministers of 19 Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemned Colombia's opening of its embassy in Jerusalem, expressing their categorical rejection of this step, which they said conflicts with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and undermines international efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. The ministers said, in a joint statement: “The Foreign Ministers of the State of Kuwait, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Djibouti, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the Lebanese Republic, and the State of Libya, condemn Malaysia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Yemen strongly express their categorical rejection of the Republic of Colombia opening its embassy in Jerusalem, a step that contradicts the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and undermines international efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

The statement added: “The Ministers reaffirm that any action or decision aimed at changing the legal or historical status of occupied Jerusalem, or recognizing it as the capital of Israel, is null and void and has no legal effect. This position is consistent with the relevant Security Council and United Nations General Assembly resolutions, in particular Security Council Resolutions No. 476 (of 1980) and No. 478 (of 1980), which reject attempts to change the character or status of Jerusalem, and call on states to withdraw Its diplomatic missions are from the city, which is part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.”

The ministers called on "the Colombian government to reconsider and retract this decision, fulfill its obligations under international law, and refrain from taking measures that affect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."