US declares Quds 'undivided' capital of Israel

Less than a week after US President Donald Trump signed a presidential waiver preventing the moving of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem'), the US Senate passed a resolution on Monday -- the 50th anniversary of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territory -- declaring Quds the “undivided” capital of Israel.

The non-binding resolution, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, was passed with widespread bipartisan support with a vote of 90-0, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The senate has reportedly passed the resolution in order to express its support for the 'Jerusalem' Embassy Act of 1995, which would move the US embassy to 'Jerusalem'. Trump signed a presidential waiver to prevent the act’s implementation last week, following on the footsteps of every US President since the act’s introduction.

The resolution’s passing also came on the same day that Palestinians around the world commemorated the “Naksa,” meaning “setback,” marking the Israeli invasion and occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, and the Golan Heights that began on June 5, 1967 during the Six-Day War, displacing some 300,000 Palestinians, as well as thousands of Syrians, from their homes.

According to Palestinians and the international community the city has remained an intricate part of the occupied Palestinian territory and would be considered the capital of any future Palestinian state.

In response to the event, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement that the move was “unprecedented” and “provocative” and that the US Congress was “singularly contravening longstanding American policy and becoming party to Israel’s egregious violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”

“If the US wants to play a constructive role as a peacemaker rather than as a supporter of an illegal occupation, it must demonstrate respect for the law and recognition of equal rights for all peoples, foremost the Palestinian right to self-determination and freedom,” Ashrawi concluded.