Diplomatic Achievement: Czech Republic Announces to Open Official Representation in Jerusalem Israel today

The Czech Republic joins the ranks of countries that have recently announced the opening of embassies or diplomatic missions in the capital • Foreign Minister: "A clear message to the world that Jerusalem is our capital forever"

• Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Czech counterpart

  Photography: 

  Mark Israel Salem

The Czech Republic decided today (Wednesday) that it will open its first diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

In this decision, which is another diplomatic achievement for Israel, the Czech Republic joins Kosovo, Serbia, the Dominican Republic and Malawi, which in the last three months have announced the opening of an embassy or diplomatic mission in the capital. 

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke with his Czech counterpart, Thomas Patricek, and thanked him for the decision to open an official representative office in the city.

"The Czech Republic's decision to open a diplomatic office in the city of Jerusalem is a sign of the courageous friendship between the Czech Republic and Israel and the strategic partnership between the two countries," Ashkenazi said.

"This decision is a clear message to all countries of the world: Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and will remain our capital forever."

After Hungary, the Czech Republic is the second EU country to open an official representative office in Jerusalem.

This effectively broke the taboo imposed by the European Union on its members to refrain from recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in any way.

The Foreign Ministry estimates that this will pave the way for more European countries to follow suit.

The Czech Ambassador to Israel, Martin Strofnicki, presented a letter to the head of the Foreign Ministry's Strategic Policy Department, Alon Bar, with an official announcement of the opening of a Czech diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

According to the ambassador, this is a promise made by the Czech president, Milos Zaman, about two years ago.  

Minister Ashkenazi congratulated the Israeli Ambassador to Prague, Daniel Maron, on the important diplomatic achievement.

"I sincerely hope that we will soon inaugurate the Czech delegation in Jerusalem and see the flags of the countries hoisted over the offices of the missions in the capitals of the two countries, as a sign of the brave friendship and strategic partnership between the countries." 

In a conversation with Israel Today, Ambassador Maron said, "This is a moment of happiness. A three-year effort has brought the result. We at the embassy have not stopped talking about this issue at every meeting, conversation with the President, the Prime Minister, MPs and media interviews. "To give President Zaman, who can be defined as a 'Star of Jerusalem', who was the living spirit behind the move for years, and also to Foreign Minister Patricek, who had the courage to make the decision."