Paraguay opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem

13/12/2024 6:14

Paraguay formally opened

its new Jerusalem embassy in Israel on Thursday in a ceremony

attended by President Santiago Peña and Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu, following a back-and-forth struggle over the

diplomatic seat that kicked off in 2018.



The South American nation's embassy had for decades been

located in the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv, but in 2018

former President Horacio Cartes ordered its move to Jerusalem.

Months later, the facility was moved back to Tel Aviv after an

abrupt reversal announced by Cartes' successor, Mario Abdo.



Cartes, a Netanyahu ally, is also a close confidant of Peña,

with both men coming from Paraguay's conservative Colorado

Party.



Peña took office last year and shortly afterwards announced

the embassy's move back to Jerusalem. He traveled to Israel to

officially open it on Thursday.



"This step symbolizes our commitment to shared values and

the strengthening of the ties that build a future of peace,

development and mutual understanding," he said at the new

embassy's opening ceremony.



The president did not refer to the war in Gaza, or other

recent Israeli military operations in Lebanon or Syria.