FM Cohen hosts Jerusalem Day event for countries with embassies in the city

Ahead of Jerusalem Day, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen holds an event at the ministry’s Jerusalem headquarters lauding the four countries that have opened embassies in the capital – the US, Honduras, Guatemala, and Kosovo.

While the three smaller countries send their top diplomats in Israel — only Guatemala has an ambassador here —  to the event, the US does not send Ambassador Tom Nides or his deputy, Stephanie Hallett.

Instead, Economic Counselor Larry Memmott represents Washington at the event.

Though not an ambassador, Memmott is a career diplomat with significant experience in the region, including in Kuwait and Iraq.

“Our relationship is as strong as it has ever been,” says Memmott in his brief remarks at the event. “Our alliance is as deep and enduring as it has ever been.”

Cohen says that his goal is to have three more countries open embassies by the end of the year.

The four diplomats raise their countries’ flags next to the Israeli flag at the ministry.