US embassy move in Israel violates sovereignty of Palestinians: Activist

US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds violates international law and the sovereignty of Palestinians, a human rights activist says.

“This is part of a consistent pattern of destroying the sovereignty and the independence and the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” said Ralph Schoenman, the author of "The Hidden History of Zionism."

"It’s a violation of their rights, it’s a fundamental example of colonial domination and the involvement of the United States in moving the embassy is part of that process,” Schoenman told Press TV on Monday.

"The role of the United Nations in condemning this is an expression of the resistance of the people across the world," he said, stressing that resistance is the only way going forward.

In July of 1980, Israel passed a law that declared Jerusalem the united capital of Israel. The United Nations Security Council responded with a resolution condemning Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem and called it a violation of international law.

Resolution 478 also urged member states that had already established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem “to withdraw such missions from the Holy City” so as not legitimize Israel’s illegal annexation.

The United States officially announced the opening of its new embassy in Jerusalem al-Quds on Monday amid deadly Israeli crackdown on peaceful protests by Palestinians in the occupied territories.

"Today we open the United States embassy in Jerusalem [al-Quds], Israel," US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said at the beginning of the inaugural ceremony, attended by a US delegation from Washington and officials of the Israeli regime.

Among the participants were US President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner, who has been tasked by Washington to negotiate an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a recorded message at the ceremony, Trump said he remained committed to peace between Israelis and the Palestinians, also expressing strong support for the Tel Aviv regime.

PressTV-US opens new Israel embassy amid Gaza massacre

The US officially opens its diplomatic mission in Jerusalem al-Quds amid a deadly Israeli crackdown on Palestinian protests.

In the hours leading up to the inauguration, Israeli troops engaged in clashes with Palestinians taking part in mass protests on the Gaza border.

According to Gaza health officials, at least 52 Palestinians have been shot dead and hundreds have been wounded by Israeli snipers who are positioned along the fence, facing the protesters.

Trump recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel in December last year, promising to relocate the US diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The decision sparked outrage among Palestinians, who deem Jerusalem al-Quds as the future capital of a Palestinian state.

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