Trump may open US embassy in Jerusalem; Guatemala first country to move to holy city
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In a move which is likely to upset several countries in West Asia, President Donald Trump said he may travel to Jerusalem to open the US embassy in Jerusalem.
In December last year, Trump had recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal and had decided to move the US embassy to the holy city. The move had created an upheaval in the Middle East with Turkey, Iran and Saudia Arabia condemning the move.
Israeli PM Netanyahu had told a US channel that he would "love" to have the US president attend. The embassy is set to provisionally open on May 14th while a new site will be built elsewhere.
Meanwhile, America's ally in Asia, PM Shinzo Abe currently on a visit to Isreal met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and informed him that Japan has no intention of moving its embassy to Jerusalem, Isreali media report said.
Abe visited a Japan-backed Agro-industrial park in West Bank's Jericho after which he met Isreali PM, Benjamin Netanyahu. The industrial zone is called Corridor for Peace and Prosperity Initiative meant to promote economic cooperation between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordan.
Palestinian official news agency Wafa said that PM Abe had told Abbas that Japan "will not move its embassy to Jerusalem."
#Guatemala's flag flies high in #Jerusalem, near the site of the new Guatemalan Embassy, which is being opened in its new location in Israel's capital.
— Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) May 1, 2018
Bienvenidos a Jerusalén!???? pic.twitter.com/ltH6ruYWRx
On Monday, Guatemala moved its embassy to Jerusalem at the Malkha Technology Park. The official ceremony is likely to take place on May 16th, media reports said. Israeli PM Netanyahu lauded the move welcoming Guatemalan officials to Jerusalem.
"I was moved to see the flag of Guatemala waving in Jerusalem in advance of the opening of the Guatemalan embassy later this month. Dear friends, welcome back to our eternal capital," Netanyahu said.