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Paraguay will transfer Israel's embassy to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.
>> Netanyahu congratulated Paraguay for hosting the Jews, except that they also hosted the Nazis and Hezbollah
"Paraguay wants to contribute to the intensification of regional diplomatic efforts to achieve a broad, just and lasting peace in the Middle East," said Foreign Minister Luis Alberto Castiglioni.
Israel will close its embassy in Paraguay and call back its ambassador for consultations after the announcement, according to the prime minister's office.
The former president Horacio Cartes made the decision to move the diplomatic site to Jerusalem. His successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, also a member of the conservative Colorado party, took office last month.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki urged the new Paraguayan president to reverse the trend, according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that efforts to change Paraguay's decision began after Abdo's inauguration. Al-Maliki participated in the inauguration ceremony and agreed with Castiglioni a month ago. It was decided that the Palestinians would not publish the decision so that the Israelis do not put pressure on Paraguay.
Al-Maliki expressed his appreciation to the Paraguayan President by stating: "The decision is in accordance with international law and with the decisions of the Security Council.It is a breakthrough for Palestinian diplomacy vis-à-vis the international community" .
Paraguay officially moved its country's embassy to Jerusalem on May 21, with Israel's Cards for the ceremony, which was also attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Paraguay is the third country to move its embassy to Jerusalem after the United States and Guatemala. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Embassy's new home in the Malkha Technology Park, where the Guatemalan embassy is also located.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later called on Latin American countries not to move their embassies from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, describing East Jerusalem as "the capital of the Palestinian state."
Speaking during a visit to Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, Abbas said most countries respect the status of East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that his government was a "friend" of the "Arab peoples" and that he supported "the cause of a free, independent and peaceful Palestine".
Local media in Paraguay said the decision to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem has sparked criticism in the country and that the decision would be reevaluated under the administration of the new president, Mario Abdo Benitez.
Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid political party, said: "I condemn Paraguay's decision to move the Jerusalem embassy, we will never have another capital, but the unified city of Jerusalem."
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