Netanyahu thanks Czechs for pro-Israel resolutions
PM hopes others will follow Prague in recognizing Jerusalem as capital, sanctioning UNESCO for bias
Raphael Ahren is a former diplomatic correspondent at The Times of Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday thanked the Czech parliament for passing two pro-Israel resolutions that recognize the Jewish people’s ancient ties to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu praised the Czech Chamber of Deputies for its call on Tuesday to the nation’s government to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to stop paying membership fees to UNESCO until the organization stops its anti-Israel bias.
Speaking at the official ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Israel’s reunification of the city in the 1967 Six Day War, the prime minister said that the Czech decision was a courageous one. “This is the proper position, it is the courageous stance that others should take,” he said.
He also said that the move to recognize Israel’s capital as Jerusalem was “the recognition of something simple.” Netanyahu said he hoped that the Czech resolution would inspire other countries to do the same.
“This is the correct, worthy and courageous decision that others should copy,” he said.
The prime minister connected Prague’s support for Israel to the early years of the Jewish state when Czechoslovakia sold arms to the fledgling IDF, which proved crucial to the establishment of the country.
“The Czechs once gave us Czech rifles,” he said, “this was the start of the struggle.”
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification, the lower chamber of the Czech Republic’s bicameral parliament passed two pro-Israel resolutions, both critical of the United Nations’ cultural and scientific agency.
In an unusual step, the country’s president also sent greetings to an event hosted by the Israeli embassy in honor of Jerusalem Day.
“The Chamber of Deputies calls on the government of the Czech Republic to stop all payments of membership fees to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from the state budget this year,” the nonbinding resolution read.
The Czech lawmakers further resolved to urge the government to freeze payments to UNESCO in future years if it does not cease allowing itself to be politicized for an anti-Israel agenda.
Israel’s ambassador to the Paris-based agency, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, welcomed the resolution. “Another blessed decision and another sane voice against the stream of delusional resolutions on the matter of Jerusalem,” he told The Times of Israel. “This is indeed a nice present from Prague to the people of Israel on Jerusalem Day.”
Israelis on Tuesday evening started celebrating the 50th anniversary of the capture of East Jerusalem in the course of the Six Day War. Israel subsequently annexed that part of the city and declared united Jerusalem its eternal capital, a move not recognized by the international community.
In an additional resolution, the Czech parliamentarians condemned the “continuing politicization of the issue of Jerusalem.” It passed with an overwhelming majority of 112 to 2.
The lawmakers declared their rejection of UNESCO’s May 2 resolution, which denied Israel’s claim to Jerusalem, and urged the government in Prague to recognize the city as Israel’s capital.
Resolution 201 EX/PX/DR.30.1, which was proposed by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan, “reaffirms the enduring biased and hostile attitude of UNESCO to one of its Member States; as well as the unacceptable politicization of the organization” by dealing with matter that are “clearly beyond its mandate,” the Czech resolution stated.
The UNESCO vote, which coincided with Israel’s Independence Day, passed with 22 countries in favor, 23 abstentions, 10 opposed, and the representatives of three countries absent.
The Czech Chamber of Deputies further endorsed a two-state solution and called for direct Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations without preconditions. It also opposed decisions and resolutions by international organizations such as the European Union that “distort historical facts” and contain the “spirit of anti-Israel bigotry.”
Today we celebrated Jerusalem day in Prague Castle with Archbishop of Prague and many other friends pic.twitter.com/GbaW90E77Q
— Daniel Meron (@AmbMeron) May 23, 2017
On Tuesday evening, the Israeli embassy in Prague hosted 500 guests at a Jerusalem Day celebration at the 9th-century Prague Castle — the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic.
“Let me greet you all on the occasion of this gathering that takes place on the eve of the Day of Jerusalem,” Czech President Milos Zeman said in a written message to the event’s participants. “You have gathered in this magnificent cathedral, the spiritual center of our country so steadfastly connected with our statehood.”
For Israel to celebrate in the historic venue is more than symbolic, he continued. “It was the Czechoslovak Republic that gave the helping hand to Israel in the difficult times. And in exchange, Israel with its vitality and pride encourages us in Europe where we face the evil of terrorism.”
Zeman concluded his message by thanking the guests for supporting Israel. “It is all the more valuable in the situation when the poisonous shoots of anti-Semitism once again started to take root on the European continent.”
