PLO official hopes U.S. won't change its strategy towards Jerusalem

A senior official in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) expressed hope on Friday that new United States Administration wouldn't change its strategy and policy towards Jerusalem.

Saeb Erekat, the PLO executive committee secretary general told reporters in a meeting held in Bethlehem in the West Bank that the U.S. has been against annexing Jerusalem to Israel since 1967, and never changed this strategy.

Asked about the remarks of officials in the new U.S. Administration that they are determined to move U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Erekat said "Donald Trump is not free to choose the capitals of countries."

Erekat also said that "Trump doesn't have the right to violate the international law and move the American Embassy to Jerusalem simply because this would influence the position of Jerusalem and undermine peace entirely."

The Palestinians want the eastern part of Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future Palestinian state, while Israel says all Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel.

Asked about postponing the international conference for peace in the Middle East, which was due in Paris next week, Erekat said "it is not important when the conference will be held, but to hold it is more important."

"Any conference for peace in the Middle East has to consider the implementation of the principle of two-state solution in accordance to international resolutions and a clear time table based on the roadmap and the Arab initiative," said Erekat. Endit