Following the United States and Guatemala’s lead, Romania’s prime minister announced at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference on Sunday her intention to move the country’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
“I, as prime minister of Romania, and the government I lead, will move our embassy to Jerusalem,” said Viorica Dăncilă. “Our support of the State of Israel and the Jewish community is constant. I am determined to contribute to closer relations between Israel and the entire European Union, particularly now, when Romania is holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
Dăncilă has been met with resistance by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who would make the final decision on moving the country’s embassy.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández said that “Honduras will immediately open our official diplomatic mission, and this will extend our embassy to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem.”
According to a joint statement from the three countries released by the U.S. State Department in January, Israel and Honduras “agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem.”
Honduras was one of just nine countries to vote against a U.N. General Assembly resolution in December 2017 condemning America’s recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Also present, Cape (Cabo) Verde’s prime minister, José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva, talked about strengthening ties between the African country and the Jewish state. He traveled to Israel this month, meeting with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its president, Reuven Rivlin.
“My government is very interested [in strengthening the] political and diplomatic relationship with Israel,” said Silva. “We’re considering to open a Cape Verde embassy in Israel as soon as possible.”
