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The President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, said Monday in the Israeli parliament that he would press for the embassy of his country to move to Jerusalem, but acknowledged that the decision depended on his government.
Zeman is a staunch supporter of Israel and has long advocated moving the Czech Embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem, as US President Donald Trump did in May.
But the Czech government has also announced its intention to respect the EU's common position on the issue.
"Well, dear friends, I am unfortunately not a dictator, but I promise to do my best," he said during a speech to the Knesset, during a visit to the Knesset. 39 State in the country, to applause.
He also accused European countries of sometimes acting as "cowards" and called for unfailing solidarity with Israel.
On Tuesday, Zeman will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and inaugurate a new Czech house in Jerusalem, which will include tourism and trade promotion, an initiative of Czech leaders as a first step in the move of the country. embassy.
In May, the Czech Republic reopened an honorary consulate in Jerusalem after its closure in 2016 due to the death of the honorary consul.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967, which it subsequently annexed, which has never been recognized by the international community.
It considers the entire city as its capital, while the Palestinians regard the eastern sector as the capital of their future state.
An international consensus – including the EU – has been that the status of the city must be negotiated by both parties.
Netanyahu sought alliances with EU leaders sympathetic to his cause and denounced "the hypocritical and hostile attitude" of the EU, which criticizes the Israeli occupation and the construction of settlements in the West Bank.
Zeman said in his speech that he was "Israel's best friend in my own country".
"Prime Minister Netanyahu has declared that the Czech Republic is Israel's best friend in Europe, and I wonder why only in Europe."
He also condemned the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which heads the Gaza Strip, and welcomed the news of a proposal long advocated by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to create a confederation with the Palestinians.
"Your idea of a two-nation state, Mr. President, has inspired me," Zeman said when meeting with Rivlin.
Palestinians are deeply skeptical of such proposals, fearing that they will not enjoy equal rights.
