Muslim and Jewish activists Monday criticized Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's public approval of Jerusalem as the new site of the United States embassy in Israel.
The joint condemnation was issued in a statement by the Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Los Angeles chapter of the Jewish Voice for Peace
Garcetti's backing of the move authored by President Donald Trump was made in a Friday interview he gave to the Los Angeles Times.
"I support the embassy being here," Garcetti said from Jerusalem, where he chaired a delegation of American mayors in the Holy Land seeking opportunities between their cities and Israel.
The comments caused a stir in some portions of the Southland's political arena.
"It is highly disturbing that Mayor Garcetti would declare support for such a reckless decision," CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said.
"The decision to move the U.S. embassy violated the international status of the Holy City of Jerusalem and was offensive and provocative, not only to the 12 million Palestinian Christians and Muslims, but also to the 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide."
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Estee Chandler of the Jewish Voice for Peace joined Ayloush in decrying Garcetti's stance.
"Mayor Garcetti's endorsement of the illegal move to consolidate Israeli annexation of land furthers the endangering of the lives of both Palestinians and Israelis on the ground," Chandler said.
