U.S. decision puts principle of ‘rule of law’ to test: Egypt’s rep in SC

CAIRO – 8 December 2017: Egyptian representative at the Security Council, Amr Aboul Atta, declared Egypt's rejection of the U.S.’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and the transfer of its embassy to it and its consequences.

In his speech during the emergency session held upon America’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Atta confirmed that the decision is testing whether the rule of law has ever has its place in the Security Council whose resolution affirmed the “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to have full sovereignty over their State of Palestine on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.”

Atta further cited Resolution 242 issued on November 22, 1967 which unanimously entitled Israel to withdraw its armed forces from territories occupied in the 1967 and the UN resolution no. 478 issued on August 20, 1980 which rejected Israel’s control over Jerusalem.

“[We] also affirm that the adoption of such unilateral and non-negotiated decisions is at odds with international legitimacy and that eventually it won’t snap back into effect and does not change the status quo in the city,” Aboul Atta added.

“We also express our deep concern at the possible repercussions of this resolution on the stability of the region, as it would inflame the sentiments of the Arab and Islamic peoples around the globe given the great spiritual, cultural and historical status of the city of Jerusalem, in addition to its very negative impact on the future of the peace process whose main pillar is determining the final-status of Jerusalem which is left to negotiations.”

Egypt’s representative confirmed Egypt’s ever-lasting commitment to the two-state solution based on 1967 borders.