Israel Knesset Passes Law on Diplomatic Missions

The Israeli Knesset has passed a law prohibiting the establishment of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem that are not embassies, reaffirming the city's status as Israel's capital. The legislation, which passed with a 29-7 vote, is an amendment to the Basic Law and will not affect existing consulates. Lawmakers Ze’ev Elkin and Dan Illouz emphasized that Jerusalem is central to Israeli sovereignty and that the law prevents diplomatic missions servicing Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza. This move aligns with a growing trend of nations, including Paraguay and the Netherlands, considering or planning to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem. While the law is seen as a historic affirmation of Israel's claim to Jerusalem, most countries still do not recognize the city as the capital and maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv. Currently, only five countries have embassies in Jerusalem, including the United States and Guatemala.