Paraguay moves Israel embassy back out of Jerusalem
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Paraguay announced Wednesday it would immediately move its embassy in Israel out of Jerusalem and back to Tel Aviv, less than four months after opening the new mission.
The move presents an embarrassing diplomatic setback for Israel, which had hoped to build on the momentum started by the U.S., Guatemala and Paraguay, which all moved their embassies to Jerusalem in May. In response to Paraguay’s decision, Israel said it was shuttering its embassy there, warning that ties between the countries would be “strained” by the decision.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Luis Alberto Castiglioni said at a news conference that he hoped “the friends of Israel will not be bothered” by his nation’s reversal and expressed hope for “excellent ties of friendship and co-operation” with both “the states of Israel and Palestine.”
Former President Horacio Cartes opened the new embassy in Jerusalem on May 21, giving a diplomatic victory to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. It came only days after the U.S. and Guatemala took similar steps.