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Czech Republic to open diplomatic office in Jerusalem

Opening the diplomatic office is the fulfillment of a promise made by Czech President Milos Zaman about two years ago.

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

Israel welcomed the Czech Republic’s announcement that it will open a diplomatic office in Jerusalem, the latest country to move its diplomatic activity in Israel to its capital.

The Czech Ambassador to Israel Martin Stropnicky delivered a letter to the head of the Foreign Ministry’s strategic planning department Alon Bar announcing the opening of a Czech diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

According to Stropnicky, opening the diplomatic office is the fulfillment of a promise made by Czech President Milos Zaman about two years ago.

Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček held a telephone call with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.

“The Ministers followed up on their friendly exchange from the recent past,” the Czech Foreign Ministry stated.

Petříček “expressed his hope in successful developments of the uneasy political situation in Israel’s Knesset and also informed his counterpart of a positive reinforcement of the Czech presence in Jerusalem.”

Ashkenazi expressed his appreciation for “the true friendship and strong support that Israel receives from the Czech government, as well as the common commitment between the peoples to strengthen the partnership through security, economic, commercial, tourism and technological cooperation and [collaboration] in the global fight against the Coronavirus.”

“The brief and friendly call has confirmed the lasting positive and strategic relationship between Czechia and Israel. This will contribute to the fulfillment of the long-term EU vision concerning a peace arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians, with Jerusalem as a future capital of two states,” the Czech Foreign Ministry stated.

Ashkenazi stated that the Czech Republic’s decision to open a diplomatic office in Jerusalem is “a sign of the brave friendship between the Czech Republic and Israel and the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

“This decision is a clear message to all countries: Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people,” he underscored. “This is an important step that indicates the friendship between the peoples and the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Jerusalem will remain our capital forever.”

The Czech decision joins the wave of countries that have announced the opening of embassies in Jerusalem in the past three months, including Kosovo, Serbia, the Dominican Republic and Malawi.

The US and Guatemala in May 2018 relocated their embassies to Jerusalem.

Honduras, which has a commercial office in Jerusalem, said that it will relocate its embassy to the capital by the end of 2020.

Brazil has a trade office in the capital.

The Czech Republic has a cultural and trade center in Jerusalem.