Paraguay opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem after moving it from Tel Aviv
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FILE PHOTO: Paraguay's President Santiago Pena speaks during an interview with Reuters, in Asuncion, Paraguay August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File Photo
ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay formally opened its new Jerusalem embassy in Israel on Thursday in a ceremony attended by President Santiago Peña and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a back-and-forth struggle over the diplomatic seat that kicked off in 2018.
The South American nation's embassy had for decades been located in the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv, but in 2018 former President Horacio Cartes ordered its move to Jerusalem. Months later, the facility was moved back to Tel Aviv after an abrupt reversal announced by Cartes' successor, Mario Abdo.
Cartes, a Netanyahu ally, is also a close confidant of Peña, with both men coming from Paraguay's conservative Colorado Party.
Peña took office last year and shortly afterwards announced the embassy's move back to Jerusalem. He traveled to Israel to officially open it on Thursday.
"This step symbolizes our commitment to shared values and the strengthening of the ties that build a future of peace, development and mutual understanding," he said at the new embassy's opening ceremony.
The president did not refer to the war in Gaza, or other recent Israeli military operations in Lebanon or Syria.
(Reporting by Daniela Desantis; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle, William Maclean)
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