U.S. Vice President Mike Pence put some pressure on Paraguay’s new president, Mario Abdo Benitez, to reconsider his reversal to move its embassy in Israel back to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem, where it moved in May.
Congratulating Benitez on Wednesday on his new role, Pence “strongly encouraged” him to “follow through with Paraguay’s previous commitment to move the embassy as a sign of the historic relationship the country has maintained with both Israel and the United States,” according to a White House statement.
“Paraguay’s decisions to reverse course on recognition of Jerusalem is a temporary setback for U.S. policy in the Middle East, and therefore a high priority for President Trump and Vice President Pence, who is a major driver of strong support for Israel,” said geopolitical strategist John Sitilides.“Washington has been seeking the backing of other capitals, and Guatemala’s and Paraguay’s initial concurrence built up a policy traction that the Trump administration sought to further advance.”
He continued, saying “the State Department was aware of the likelihood that President Abdo Benitez—the grandson of a Lebanese immigrant—would reverse his predecessor’s pro-Jerusalem decision, especially given his public opposition at that time and his political consideration of Paraguay’s sizable Lebanese community.
“The Palestinian Foreign Minister further advanced strong arguments against Jerusalem recognition in his recent meetings with President Abdo Benitez, who may also feel it is beneficial during this honeymoon period to assert greater foreign-policy independence from Washington, especially in the face of declining U.S. aid to Paraguay.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the reversal on Wednesday by ordering Israel’s embassy in Paraguay to be closed.
“Israel views with utmost gravity the extraordinary decision by Paraguay, which will cloud bilateral relations,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
