Paraguay follows Guatemala and the U.S. in opening Jerusalem embassy

Paraguay has opened its new embassy in Jerusalem, following in the footsteps of the United States and Guatemala.

President Horacio Cartes dedicated the embassy on Monday morning, making Paraguay the third country to transfer its diplomatic mission in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Romania, the Czech Republic and Honduras have said they are also considering doing the same.

US president Donald Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem in December was welcomed by the Israeli government, but it infuriated the Palestinians, who claim Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as their future capital.

The US embassy move added fuel to the weekly Palestinian protests in Gaza demanding the right of return to Israel and the lifting of a decade-old naval blockade.

The protests culminated last Monday, when Israel killed nearly 60 Palestinians in clashes along the border.

The heavy death toll triggered a diplomatic backlash, with Turkey expelling Israel’s ambassador and consul general and several European countries summoning the Israeli ambassadors to their foreign ministries for questioning.

But the US embassy move has also sparked others to rally in support of Israel.

The entrance to Jerusalem was lined with the flags of Paraguay, and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the ceremony that he was there to “salute” a great friend.

The opening of the embassy was “a great day for Israel, a great day for Paraguay, a great day for our friendship,” Mr Netanyahu said.