Israel and Paraguay enter into a diplomatic spat over Jerusalem embassy; Israel orders closure of Paraguay embassy

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered for the closure of the Israeli embassy in Paraguay. The new government in Paraguay had announced shifting its newly opened embassy in Jerusalem back to Tel Aviv. In retaliation to this, the Israeli Prime Minister has ordered closure of its embassy in Paraguay.

In the month of May, Horacio Cartes, the then President of Paraguay, had inaugurated the Paraguay embassy in Jerusalem. It was the third country after the United States and Guatemala to open its embassy in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had praised Paraguay saying ‘Israel always remembers its good friends and we will not get a better friend than Paraguay.’

Nevertheless, after the change of government last month, Mario Abdo took over as the President of Paraguay. Under the pretext of speeding up the Israel-Palestine peace talks, he decided to shift the embassy back to Tel Aviv. He justified his decision saying, ‘Paraguay is a country based on values’.

There is a severe reaction from Israel on the decision by the President of Paraguay. Israel criticised the decision saying, ‘Israel is looking very seriously at the Paraguay declaration and this decision can adversely affect the relations between the two nations’. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced closure of the Israeli embassy in Paraguay. The country has expressed regret over Israel’s decision.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources have indicated that following the United States and Guatemala, countries like Honduras and Belgium also have started preparations to move their embassies to Jerusalem.