From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Knesset passes law banning establishment of non-embassy diplomatic missions in Jerusalem
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Lawmakers vote 29-7 to pass into law a bill prohibiting the establishment of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem that are not embassies.
The legislation, an amendment to the the Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel, is sponsored by MKs Ze’ev Elkin (New Hope) and Dan Illouz (Likud) and stipulates that no new consulates will be established in Jerusalem, while the government will encourage the establishment of foreign embassies in the city.
The law will not affect the status of already existing diplomatic missions in the Israeli capital.
“Jerusalem is the core of our sovereignty,” Illouz states, asserting that the new law “makes it clear once and for all that Jerusalem is ours and is not for sale. It’s a historic law that joins other historic laws passed in recent days.”
Elkin says that “those who wish to establish a foreign mission in Jerusalem will have to act according to this law and the mission will be obligated to provide service to the residents of the State of Israel. Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of the State of Israel and no country will be allowed to challenge our sovereignty in the united Jerusalem.”
Most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and base their embassies in Tel Aviv, often opening smaller consulates in Jerusalem. Currently, five countries — the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo and Papua New Guinea — have embassies in Jerusalem.
