Statement from Birzeit University on Jerusalem

Birzeit University strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of "Israel," and setting in motion a plan to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to the Holy City- Jerusalem.  The university views these acts as very dangerous, as well as a flagrant violation of Palestinians' rights, and all international laws and agreements.

These decisions made by Trump deal a sharp blow to all efforts aiming to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, and assure Palestinians that the American administration cannot be a moderate mediator in Palestinians’ long struggle with the Israeli Occupation. The United States has always been a strategic ally to the Occupation, and is encouraging it to continue its occupation and its colonialist and apartheid policies against the Palestinian people in their homeland.

Condemnation and verbal warnings are no longer sufficient; we call upon all Palestinians to form a united front defending Jerusalem, peace, and liberty to put an end to the Israeli Occupation's defiance of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and its violation of the sanctity of the Palestinian homeland.

Birzeit University calls upon all free and peace-loving nations to stand against this decision, and support Palestinians in the fight for their rights and independence, and it calls on the international community, human rights organizations, and academic organizations to confront these decisions and not recognize them.