“Israel congratulates the National Congress of Honduras for passing with an overwhelming majority a resolution in favor of opening an Embassy in Jerusalem,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
By: JNS and United with Israel Staff
Lawmakers in Honduras voted on Thursday to relocate the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“Israel congratulates the National Congress of Honduras for passing with an overwhelming majority a resolution in favor of opening an Embassy in Jerusalem,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said on Twitter.
Honduran lawmakers approved the measure 59-33, which now must be approved by the executive branch.
“A notice has been sent to the secretary of state in the Foreign Ministry who handles [Honduran] ties to the Israeli people, according to which Honduras should consider moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv,” said National Congress First Secretary Jose Tomas Zambrano Molina.
Earlier this week, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced that Guatemala will open its new embassy in Jerusalem just two days after the United States in mid-May.
Like its Central American neighbor, Honduras has been strongly supportive of US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move the American embassy there.
Israel and Honduras also enjoy a strong relationship. In March, Israel announced it would be expanding cooperation with Honduras in areas such as security, economic development, education, health and the environment.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was also scheduled to take part in Israel’s 70th Independence Day celebrations next week, but was forced to withdraw from the event over human rights objections from some in Israel.
More to Come?
A few other countries have shown support for the US’ move.
Romanian Parliament chief Liviu Dragnea stated in December that he thinks his country “should seriously consider moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. We should think about it very seriously.”
“All Israeli central institutions are in Jerusalem, and the ambassadors and embassy’s staff are commuting from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” he said, essentially echoing President Donald Trump’s reasoning about recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Netanyahu earlier expressed confidence that most European countries will follow Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“I believe that all or most of the European countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem, recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and engage robustly with us for security, prosperity and peace,” Netanyahu said in Brussels last Monday ahead of a meeting with all 28 foreign ministers of European Union (EU) member states.
The Czech Republic recognized western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel following Trump’s policy changes on the city.
The Czech government’s move on western Jerusalem follows the Czech Parliament’s approval of legislation in May that recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
In April 2017, the Russian Foreign Ministry made a similar move to recognize “west Jerusalem” as the Israeli capital.