Czech Republic to open diplomatic office in Jerusalem

The Czech Republic said on Wednesday that it will add a diplomatic presence in its Jerusalem office, essentially opening a diplomatic office. The country said that the move was aimed at boosting services for Czech citizens in Israel and it did not amount to opening a new embassy.

Czech Republic has long been one of Israel's steadiest supporters in the European Union and its president, Milos Zeman, has backed the idea of relocating the Czech embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. However no steps have been taken.

Israel has welcomed the Czech announcement. Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its capital. However, this is not recognised by most countries.

Palestinians seek the city’s east, which Israel captured in a 1967 war, as capital of a future state.

Given the city’s disputed status and sensitivity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most countries with embassies in Israel have opened them in its commercial capital of Tel Aviv.

The Czech foreign ministry said the establishment of an office with a diplomat in Jerusalem, alongside an honorary consulate there, was not connected to the ongoing peace process in the Middle East nor was in any anticipation of its results.

It said that having a diplomat would let it carry out more services for Czech citizens, such as replacing lost documents, which can currently only be done at the embassy in Tel Aviv.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, writing on Twitter, said he had spoken with his Czech counterpart and congratulated him on a decision that “emphasizes our strong friendship and strategic partnership”.

(With Reuters inputs)