Guatemala has announced that it will be moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem al-Quds, making it the first country to follow in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales made the announcement following a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I am informing you that I have given instructions to the foreign ministry that it start the necessary respective coordination to make this happen," said Morales.
His announcement came three days after two-thirds of UN member states rejected Trump's decision to have the Washington recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital.
The UNGA on Thursday approved a resolution that described that decision by Trump as “null and void.”
Only eight countries, including four tiny Pacific islands, stood with the US in voting no to the resolution. Guatemala and fellow Central American country Honduras, both of which are dependent on US funding, voted against the UN General Assembly's motion.
Ahead of the vote, Trump threatened to discontinue financial aid to countries that vote in favor of a draft UN resolution against his decision.
Arab and Muslim states had requested that the 193-nation assembly hold an emergency special meeting on Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital, days after Washington used its veto power to block an Egypt-drafted resolution against the move at the UN Security Council.
On December 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.
The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.