Israel asks Ukraine to recognize Jerusalem as its capital
Members of Israel’s Knesset called on Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to relocate the embassy there, reported UNN news agency, citing the honorary consulate of the State of Israel in the western region of Ukraine.
“We would be happy if Ukraine could follow the United States’ example and also make this decision [to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital], and to restore historical justice, since Jerusalem has been the capital of the Hebrew state for three millennia,” said Knesset Member David Amsalem from the Likud party.
Klimkin in turn emphasized the importance of respecting historical and cultural heritage, and said that he was astonished by his last visit to Yad Vashem.
At the meeting they also discussed work on a free trade zone agreement between Ukraine and Israel.
“We will now complete the agreement and sign it, either during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Ukraine, or during our visit to Jerusalem,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated.
On December 6, US President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ordered the government to prepare to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Thousands of Arabs later went out in Jerusalem and other cities to protest Trump’s decision.