Aness Suheil Barghoti
20 March 2019•Update: 20 March 2019
RAMALLAH, Palestine
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday summoned Hungarian ambassador Shaba Rada to protest the opening of a diplomatic trade office in Jerusalem.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the diplomat was summoned to express “indignation and anger” over the Hungarian move to open the office in the occupied city.
The ministry described the Hungarian step as an “aggression against all Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims around the world”.
“This move is a violation of international law and a violation of the EU position to the city of Jerusalem,” Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Amal Jado said.
The Palestinian official warned that the Hungarian move “threatens bilateral relations between the two countries and will have serious repercussions at all levels".
The Ramallah-based authority also recalled its ambassador from Hungary over the move.
The European Union refuses to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, or transfer its embassies to the occupied city.
In late 2017, the U.S. triggered world outcry after the Donald Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocated its embassy to the city.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the decades-long Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might one day serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.
