Palestinian foreign ministry condemns Colombia's opening of embassy in Jerusalem

RAMALLAH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday condemned Colombia's opening of its embassy in Jerusalem, describing the move as an infringement on the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. In a press statement, the ministry said all measures and decisions aimed at changing the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem are null and void, with no legal effect. The ministry urged the Colombian government to abide by international law, respect UN resolutions and reverse the decision, saying that a just and comprehensive peace requires ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem earlier in the day. The opening ceremony was broadcast live by the Israeli Government Press Office and attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula Escobar. Colombia became the 10th country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem's status remains one of the central issues in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Israel considers the city its unified capital, while the Palestinians seek to establish the capital of their future independent state in East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in the 1967 war.