PLO: John Bolton's tour of occupied Jerusalem 'triggers chaos'

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) condemned a tour of Jerusalem taken by United States and Israeli officials on Sunday, saying it violates international law.

PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat said that the tour of the Old City by US National Security Advisor John Bolton, the, and US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman with Israeli officials constitutes a violation of international law and resolutions.

He said the US officials' decision to make the formal visit to Jerusalem is a “trigger to chaos, violence and absence of law” and added the visit does not change the past, present and future fact that Jerusalem, with its Old City, “will always be the eternal capital of the State of Palestine” according to Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA.

Meanwhile, Friedman announced that so-called Deal of the Century as Trump's much hyped peace plan is known will be announced after the Israeli elections take place in April.

“The election date in Israel is one of the factors in the considerations regarding the right time for publication of the American peace plan, but it is not the only factor,” Friedman said on Saturday, adding the so-called peace plan would be made public in the coming months, “so that it will have a positive response from the parties.”

Last year, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy there sparking outrage across the globe. 

A worldwide campaign #JerusalemIsTheCapitalofPalestine followed, asserting the Palestinian sovereignty of Jerusalem.

East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian territory under international law, but Israel asserts that all of Jerusalem is its 'eternal capital' and is keen to see foreign embassies move there to bolster that claim.