PMO condemns "misguided statements" made by Australian PM on Jerusalem

The Palestinian Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday condemned what it called “misguided statements” made by the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison on the openness for a possible move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Occupying Power, and an embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“We call upon the Arab and Muslim nations to take immediate actions to remind the Australian Government that such unilateral intentions come on the expense of the fundamental rights of millions of Palestinians, who have been struggling for more than 70 years to achieve their aspiration to self-determination and independence within a sovereign state established on the 1967 borders,” Spokesperson for the Palestinian Prime Minister’s Office, Ahmad Shami said

“Mr. Morrison should understand that such intentions following the footsteps of the Trump administration reflect a betrayal of the international consensus on the support of the two-state solution. In addition, this blatant move is a direct violation of UNSC resolutions that guard the Palestinian rights in 1967 lands and Jerusalem: 242, 253, 267, 298, 476, 478, 2334. Moreover, the Fourth Geneva Convention, 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Interim agreement and more specifically article 7 of Oslo 1995 Accord, and is considered an illegal interference in the internal matters where the two parties should determine the final status issues alone,” Shami added.

“We respect Australia’s character as a sovereign country. yet, we expect the Australian Government to respect the long-standing political rights of the Palestinian citizens, reconsider such destructive statements, and adopt decisions that would preserve the International Law, UNSC resolutions protecting the Palestinian rights, and all signed agreements between the State of Palestine and Israel, the Occupying Power,” Shami concluded.