Slovakia is on its way to relocating its embassy to Occupied Jerusalem Andrej Danko head of the Slovak National Council told Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Israel Hayom daily on Tuesday a visiting delegation of Slovak lawmakers also announced the Eastern European country would open a cultural center in Occupied Jerusalem.
The move when it materializes would mark a break from European Union policy on Jerusalem. Slovakia would join the Czech Republic and Bulgaria as the other European Union member states to expand their diplomatic presence in the city since US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The decision made by Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini came after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein called on Bratislava’s government to follow the Czech Republic in opening an honorary consulate in the city.
Edelstein thanked the Slovaks saying “This is a tremendous diplomatic achievement for Israel and a pleasant surprise for all of us. I am certain that when additional delegations arrive here they will understand Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital.”
The U.S. in May became the first country to move its embassy in Israel to Occupied Jerusalem following President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 recognition of the city as Israel’s capital. The move was met with widespread anger and universal condemnation.
