Honduras set to move Israeli embassy to Jerusalem

Honduras is set to become the latest country to pledge to move its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in another blow to Palestinians’ diplomatic efforts.

The Central American nation, which has benefitted from Israeli weapons and security training in recent years, had earlier signalled that it would move its embassy, a promise reiterated in a call between leaders on Sunday.

“To strengthen our strategic alliance, we spoke to arrange the opening of the embassies in Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem, respectively,” said Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez after talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We hope to take this historic step before the end of the year, as long as the pandemic allows it.”

Israel opened a diplomatic office there last month, with Donald Trump’s White House having used its leverage around the world to encourage countries such as Guatemala and Serbia to follow the United States in moving embassies to the city both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital.

Most states have refused to do so, saying the status of Jerusalem should be agreed in direct peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Honduras is home to the second largest population of Palestinians in Latin America after Chile.