Guatemala defends decision move embassy jerusalem

Guatemala has indeed defended its decision to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, despite widespread international criticism and opposition.

On May 16, 2018, Guatemala became the first country to follow the United States in moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in a move that was seen as a significant departure from the international community's stance on the issue.

The decision was made by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who cited the country's historical ties with Israel and its commitment to supporting the Jewish state's sovereignty over Jerusalem.

Guatemala's ambassador to Israel, Luis J. Ortiz, officially opened the new embassy in Jerusalem, which is located in the Arnona neighborhood of the city.

The move was met with widespread criticism from the international community, including the European Union, the United Nations, and many other countries, which view East Jerusalem as occupied territory and have called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Guatemala's decision was seen as a significant blow to the international consensus on the issue, and many countries have since urged Guatemala to reconsider its decision.

However, Guatemala has defended its decision, citing its commitment to supporting Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem and its historical ties with the Jewish state.

In a statement, the Guatemalan government said that the decision to move the embassy was made "in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and self-determination of the State of Israel, and in recognition of the historical and cultural ties that unite our two nations."

The government also emphasized that the decision was not intended to prejudice the rights of the Palestinian people or to undermine the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Despite the international criticism, Guatemala has maintained its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, and has continued to strengthen its ties with Israel in recent years.

It's worth noting that Guatemala's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem was seen as a significant departure from the country's traditional stance on the issue, and was widely seen as a major shift in Guatemalan foreign policy.