TUNIS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is "ridiculous" and shows U.S. administration's stance in favor of Israel, said Abdelfattah Mourou, the first vice-president of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, or Tunisian parliament, on Tuesday.
At the opening of a parliamentary session, Mourou called on the world's parliaments to respond to what he calls "the use of force and violence to wrest power and violate the rights of peoples."
"The United States must take full responsibility for blindly supporting Israel, especially when it contradicts all international protocols and conventions," said Mourou.
Meanwhile,Tunisia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the excessive use of force against Palestinian protesters. The death toll has risen to 61 and over 2,700 others were wounded on Monday and Tuesday during the mass protests and clashes in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, according to Palestinian media.
"Tunisia strongly condemns the killings in Gaza perpetrated by the Israeli army that targeted peaceful demonstrations for legitimate demands of the Palestinian people, including return to their land," said the ministry in an official statement.
"Tunisia supports the Palestinian people in their struggle for recognition of their legitimate rights," the statement said, adding that the international community is invited to fulfill its historical, legal and moral responsibility to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinians and provide them with the necessary protection.
Admitting that the historical status of Jerusalem must be preserved in accordance with United Nations resolutions, the statement said Tunisia considers the transfer of U.S. embassy to the holy city of Jerusalem will only aggravate the situation and harm all attempts to establish peace throughout the Middle East region.
