In a statement before the 29thconference of the Arab Parliamentary Union on Sunday, Egypt parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal re-affirmed that the administration of US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel represents a stark violation of international law.

The conference, held on 3 and 4 March in Jordan under the title ‘Jerusalem, The Eternal Capital of the State of Palestine,’ attracted parliamentarians from all over the Arab world.

Abdel-Aal said that the US administration's decision, announced in May 2018, does not have any legal or political impact.

"Jerusalem is a Palestinian city which Israel occupied in 1967 and it represents an integral part of the Palestinian state," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "the occupation of Jerusalem, no matter how long, will never lead to the loss of this occupied city to the Israelis."

"The US administration's decision will never break our will to defend Jerusalem," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "a number of parliamentary committees will be formed to hold tours all over the world to defend the right of Palestinians in having an independent state and having Jerusalem as the unified capital of their state."

Abdel-Aal also condemned the Trump administration’s decision not to give any more money to the UNRWA organisation.

"This administration, which has lost its heart, decided not to give any more money to the UNRWA, which helps Palestinian refugees meet their basic needs," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "this comes at a time when America gives the Israeli army all kinds of sophisticated weapons which it uses to kill Palestinian children."

"These children have nothing but small rocks to defend themselves against an occupation force armed to the teeth, and we have to do our best to defend them," said Abdel-Aal.

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