Another ‘great day in Israel’ as Paraguay opens embassy in Jerusalem, copying US move
The tiny South American country is the second to follow Washington’s lead and transfer its mission to the holy city from Tel Aviv
Paraguay opened its Israel embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, the second country to follow the United States in making the politically sensitive move from Tel Aviv.
Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the inauguration ceremony. The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem a week ago, drawing mass protests from Palestinians and sparking a brutal and bloody crackdown by the Israeli army. Both Israel and the US were slammed by the international community for bloodshed, as dozens of protesters were killed and hundreds injured – many of them women and children.
Guatemala moved its embassy to Jerusalem two days later.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to forging a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who with broad international backing want East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, as their capital.
Israel regards the whole of the city, including the eastern sector it annexed after the 1967 conflict, as its capital.
“This is a historic day that strengthens ties between Paraguay and Israel,” Cartes said at the ceremony.
“A great day for Israel. A great day for Paraguay. A great day for our friendship,” Netanyahu responded. “You have not only the support of our government but the profound gratitude of the people of Israel.”
Hanan Ashrawi, an official of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, denounced Paraguay’s move.
“By adopting such a provocative and irresponsible measure that is in direct contravention of international law and consensus, Paraguay has conspired with Israel, the United States and Guatemala to entrench the military occupation and to seal the fate of occupied Jerusalem,” Ashrawi said in a statement.
In December, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of US policy and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.
Most world powers do not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the entire city and says its final status should be set in peace negotiations.
