The Czech Embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday denied a Hebrew media report that a decision had been made to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem.
“No decision has been made in the Czech Republic in this respect,” the embassy told JNS—a statement also affirmed by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Daniel Drake on Monday morning.
However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office told JNS on Monday morning that, “According to a source briefed on the matter, [the report is] true.”
Israel’s Ynet outlet on Saturday reported that Prague was preparing to shift its embassy to the capital of the Jewish state, potentially becoming the first European Union member state to do so.
A senior Czech official had recently informed an Israeli counterpart that the Czech government had already made the decision and that the move would take place “in the near future,” according to the report.
The move, if realized, would mirror the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump, who relocated the American embassy to Jerusalem in 2018.
The Czech Republic has long maintained warm relations with Israel. It opened cultural and economic offices in Jerusalem in 2018, later expanding its presence with a consular section. Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Prague has emerged as one of Israel’s most outspoken supporters within the European Union, frequently blocking anti-Israel initiatives.
Hungary, another central European country that is a close ally of Israel, has also expressed interest in moving its embassy to Jerusalem, but has so far refrained from leading such a shift within the European Union.
During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest, which began on Thursday and is scheduled to wrap up on Sunday, Hungarian officials reaffirmed their support for the relocation while emphasizing that the political climate must be suitable.
