MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday dismissed media reports that the country is in talks with Israel to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
“There has been no recent discussion, whether among relevant government agencies, or bilaterally with Israel or with any other country, on the location of the Philippine Embassy in Israel,” DFA said in a statement.
It noted that any decision on the location of the country’s embassy will be based “firmly on our national interest and our long-standing support for peace in the Middle East.”
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DFA said that it “has always supported the policy of two states for two peoples as a long-term solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,” adding that the country is willing to play its part in brokering peace in the region.
This position was consistent with the Philippines’ vote in favor of the Partition Plan for Palestine in the UN in 1947, the DFA noted.
The DFA was referring to the proposal recommending Palestine be partitioned into an Arab State and a Jewish State, with a special international status for the city of Jerusalem under the administrative authority of the UN.
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According to a report by the Agence France-Press, Israeli public radio cited Israeli diplomatic sources as saying that the Philippines was among the 10 countries considering moving its embassy to Jerusalem after talks with Israel.
This came few days after the country abstained on a United Nations vote calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
An overwhelming majority of UN member-states—among them are America’s allies—voted to declare the US proclamation null and void.
US President Donald Trump on December 6 signed a proclamation recognizing the Holy City as Israel’s capital.
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