Asian country among “at least ten countries” Israel is reportedly “in contact with” for the possible transfer
(Jerusalem, Undefined) — The Philippines is considering transferring its embassy to Jerusalem, public radio citing diplomatic sources said, after the United States recognized the city as Israel’s capital.
Apart from the Philippines, Honduras, Romania and South Sudan are reportedly among states considering such a move.
Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said the four are among the “at least ten countries” they were “in contact with” for the possible transfer.
She said some of these countries were in Europe.
“So far we have only seen the beginning,” she said, noting that US President Donald Trump’s statement would “trigger a wave” of such moves.
Hotovely spoke a day after Guatemala said it would move its embassy to the city, a move slammed by Palestinian officials as “shameful.”
Two-thirds of United Nations member-states on Thursday voted for a resolution rejecting Trump’s controversial move, reaffirming that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations.
Israel seized the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community.
Several mainly Latin American countries had diplomatic missions in Jerusalem until a 1980 UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s attempt to alter the “character and status” of the city, saying it was a barrier to peace.
Trump’s announcement on December 6 sparked anger in the Palestinian territories and across the Muslim world.
Israelis see the whole of the city as their undivided capital while the Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.
No country currently has its mbassy in Jerusalem, instead keeping them in the Israeli commercial capital Tel Aviv. Agence France Presse