Palestinian envoy recalled from Washington over Israeli embassy move

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s top envoy in the U.S., Husam Zomlot, was recalled from Washington on Tuesday in a move protesting the opening of the America’s embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. 

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced the news on Palestinian television, according to Reuters.

{mosads}Zomlot returned to D.C. from the Palestinian territories earlier this year even as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not accept any peace plan proposed by the U.S. following President Trump’s announcement that he would be recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. 

Turkey on Monday recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel following the opening of the new embassy, and South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel in response to the government’s reaction to violent clashes along the Gaza border.

Palestinians, who view the eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, were demonstrating against the opening of the new U.S. Embassy. 

Israel has faced backlash from the international community for its handling of the demonstrations. 

The U.S. on Tuesday blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a probe into the violence on the border.  

“No country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has,” U.S Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said. “In fact, the record of several countries here today suggest that they would be less restrained.”