The Palestinian foreign ministry welcomed the Czech Republic's rejection to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv because the country would like to remain committed to international agreements on the issue.
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In a statement Monday, the minister praised the Czech "commitment to international resolutions and international law.”
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis Saturday rejected to relocate the country’s embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel as it would contradict with the stances of the European Union and United Nations. He also said no other country in Europe wants to move their embassies to Jerusalem and his country would not initiate.
The Czech Republic is a long-standing ally of Israel but it is also a EU member and should respect U.N. agreements according to Babis.
Last year Czech President Milos Zeman, during a speech at the Israeli parliament Knesset, promised to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem.
Israel has been trying to convince countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem which they see as the capital of the country while Palestine sees East Jerusalem as the capital of their future country.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 which the international community has maintained was an act of occupation and would not be recognized.
The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018 followed by Guatemala. Later, Honduras and Romania said they would follow suit.
The Fatah movement welcomed Czech’s refusal. Its spokesman Jamal Nazzal lauded the country’s ability to withstand pressure from U.S. and Israel and commit to international law.
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