Czech President Milos Zeman
Czech President Milos ZemanReuters

The speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mishaal bin Fahm al-Salami, on Monday called on the Czech Republic not to relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, reported the Palestinian Authority’s Wafa news agency.

Al-Salami also urged the Czech Republic to abide by United Nations resolutions and “not to prejudice the historical and legal status of the occupied city of Jerusalem.”

In identical letters sent to Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, President of the Senate, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, al-Salami stressed the Arab Parliament’s rejection to the statements made by Czech President Milos Zeman regarding his plans to transfer his country’s embassy to Jerusalem.

The speaker of the Arab Parliament said this move is a blatant violation of international law and legitimacy, and a radical change in the position of the Czech Republic, which was at the forefront of countries that recognized the “State of Palestine” in 1988.

Al-Salami called on the Parliament of the Czech Republic to urge its president to review and reverse his decision and not to transfer its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Czech Republic recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel last December, following US President Donald Trump's recognition of the city as Israel's capital.

Zeman has been a supporter of the idea of his country relocating its embassy to Jerusalem, but Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has ruled out Zeman’s suggestion, saying Trump’s move “is not good. You can see the reactions.”

Zeman recently visited Israel, where he opened the Czech House in Jerusalem, which will include representatives of the Czech government as the first stage before the embassy is transferred to the capital.