Palestine files lawsuit against the United States for moving embassy to Jerusalem

Palestine's Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki affirmed Saturday that his country has filed a lawsuit against the United States at the International Court of Justice for violating the international law by moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

The case was based on Palestine's membership in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Al-Malki said in a press statement.

He noted that based on the procedures to file a lawsuit with the ICJ, he sent a letter last May to the US State Department asking it not to move its embassy to Jerusalem because it would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and UNSC resolutions.

"Due to US' failure to respond to the letter and its non-compliance with international law, it was informed, in a written memorandum dated July 4, of a legal dispute as per the rules and procedures of the ICJ," said Al-Malki.

With the passage of the legal period and after meeting all conditions to file a lawsuit against Washington, the lawsuit has been formally filed with the ICJ's Registrar to prosecute the US, said Al-Malki.

The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14.