The new Czech prime minister has dismissed a suggestion by President Milos Zeman that the Czech Republic should follow the US example and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Talking to the Czech public radio, Andrej Babis says “this idea of President (Donald) Trump is not good. You can see the reactions.”
Babis says “the big countries should seek peace.”
Trump’s decision to recognize contested Jerusalem as the capital of Israel broke with decades of US policy, angering the Palestinians and igniting protests across the region.
Zeman said in a television interview late Thursday that he was happy with Trump’s decision and the Czech Republic and the European Union should do the same. Zeman said as early as 2013 that the Czech Republic should relocate its embassy to Jerusalem, angering Arab leaders.
The Czech Foreign Ministry said it has no such plan to follow the US president’s example.
Zeman’s position is largely ceremonial and the government is in charge of foreign policy.
Zeman was among the few European leaders who endorsed Donald Trump for US president.
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, December 8, 2017
