The Israeli Cabinet on Monday approved a government initiative allocating millions of shekels to assist foreign countries in relocating their embassies to Jerusalem. The decision was made during a special meeting held in the capital to mark Jerusalem Day.
The program, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition Meir Porush, is intended to strengthen international recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital.
According to an official statement, the assistance “will include, among other things, participation in funding expenses related to the establishment or relocation of embassies to Jerusalem, as well as providing housing and planning solutions as needed.”
The multi-year initiative will be coordinated among several ministries and aims to reduce financial and logistical barriers that have hindered the relocation of foreign missions.
The move follows renewed diplomatic momentum, including Paraguay’s reopening of its embassy in Jerusalem in December 2024 and Fiji’s announced plans to do so later this year.
Currently, six countries maintain embassies in the Israeli capital: the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Kosovo. Israeli officials are seeking to increase that number through concrete support and expanded diplomatic engagement.
The Jerusalem Day meeting, held annually to commemorate the reunification of the city during the 1967 Six-Day War, provided a symbolic backdrop for the Cabinet’s endorsement of the plan.
