The Israeli government appreciates the courage of countries that have stood against the wave of global hostility and recognized the Jewish state’s right to its eternal capital, Jerusalem, MK Dan Illouz told JNS on Wednesday.
Illouz spoke on the sidelines of the Jerusalem Embassy Tribute Ceremony in honor of Jerusalem Day, as top Israeli officials and ambassadors from around the world gathered at the Knesset to pay tribute to countries that have moved their embassies to the Israeli capital, as well as those currently in the process of doing so.
“It is incredibly important to recognize countries that have stood up for the truth. Unfortunately, we live in a world where it takes courage to stand up for what is right,” Illouz told JNS.
“These countries have recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and we want all nations to follow suit. To make that happen, we must also show appreciation to those who were the first to take this step. We hope many more will join them,” he added.
The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay all have embassies in Jerusalem, while Argentina and Fiji have vowed to follow suit.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision in 2018 during his first term to move the American embassy to Jerusalem set the stage for other countries to relocate their missions.
This year’s Jerusalem Day marked 58 years since the reunification of the holy city in the 1967 Six-Day War, which also saw Israeli forces liberate Judea and Samaria.
Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal told JNS that as the nation marks the occasion, it’s crucial to remember that the battle for Jerusalem is far from over.
“If we forget that, our enemies are quick to remind us,” he said. “They fight for a vision of Jerusalem defined by the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’—by bloodshed and violence. We, on the other hand, are fighting for a Jerusalem of peace, prosperity, harmony, and hope.”
The Israeli Cabinet on Monday approved a government initiative allocating millions of shekels to assist foreign countries in relocating their embassies to Jerusalem. The program is intended to strengthen international recognition of the city 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.”