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Paraguay has become the latest nation in Latin America to follow in U.S. President Donald Trump's inflammatory footsteps by announcing plans to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.
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President Horacio Cartes defended the move during a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Israeli state in Asuncion, Paraguay, insisting it was in response to a "political commitment" as well as a personal desire.
Cartes intends to complete the move before he leaves office in June as a means to honor the history of mutual respect and international relations shared between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli Ambassador Zeev Harel said: "Paraguay is a friend and brother...The bilateral cooperation has grown in the fields of agriculture, in the subject of water, the exchange of technology, development of education innovation, we have the pleasure of sharing our knowledge with Paraguay."
Late last year, Trump came under fire by the international community after taking the extraordinary step of formally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announcing plans to relocate the U.S. embassy by May 2018. Both were met with violent protests in Palestine.
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the United States' decision. Of the 193 votes, only Guatemala and six other countries sided with the United States and Israel. Paraguay abstained.
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