Paraguay moves embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv

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 he hoped “the friends of Israel will not be bothered” by his nation’s reversal and expressed hope for “excellent ties of friendship and cooperation” 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.

But the measure was widely criticized within Paraguay, and Castiglioni described it as “unilateral, visceral and without justification.” New Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez had opposed the switch even before taking office on Aug. 15.

“One of the most complex components of the conflict (between Israel and the Palestinians) is the status of Jerusalem,” Castiglioni said, and Paraguay believes it should be negotiated between the parties involved — a position still held by most nations.

The about-turn prompted Israel to announce the drastic step that it was closing its embassy in Asuncion and warning that Paraguay’s decision will worsen ties between the countries.