The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Serbia will move its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. After the move, it will become the first European country to recognize the holy city as Israel’s capital following the US.
Meanwhile, most of the diplomatic missions stayed in Tel Aviv as many countries stayed neutral over the disputed city until its status could be settled between the Palestinian-Israel peace deal. However, in 2017, American President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and announced shifting its embassy.
More
- Bahrain Allows Israel to Use Airspace While Kuwait Denies
- Israel and UAE in Historic Direct Flight Following Peace Deal
Netanyahu further added that the transfer is expected to be completed by July next year. He added, “I thank my friend the president of Serbia … for the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to transfer his embassy there,”
The Israeli PM also thanked the US President Trump for his contribution to the cause. Serbia, which is not a member of the 27-member countries bloc, decided to shift the embassy, and it coincided with Trump’s announcement that former foes Kosovo and Serbia had agreed on a groundbreaking pact to normalize their relations with the Israeli state.
In response, the Palestinians criticized Serbia’s move, citing that Trump’s re-elections hopes make Palestinian people a victim. Saeb Erekat, the secretary-general of Palestinian Liberation Organization, said “This, like the UAE-Israel agreement [to normalize diplomatic ties], isn’t about Middle East Peace,”
In 1967, the Israeli military took control of East Jerusalem and later annexed the region. However, the movie has been criticized and not recognized by the international community. The Netanyahu government claims the holy city as its undivided capital; meanwhile, the PA sees the region as its future state.
Meanwhile, the European Union and United Nations maintain that Israelis and Palestinians must settle Jerusalem’s final status.
Three years ago, Trump’s decision to relocate the American embassy to the city prompted international outrage and diplomatic challenges. However, its move was followed by Guatemala, which opened its diplomatic mission in Jerusalem in 2018.
Friday’s announcement comes a few days after the UAE became the third Middle Eastern country to normalize its relations with the state of Israel, the agreement was brokered by the US.
