Romanian president slams plan to move Israel embassy
Following suit of US, Romania transfers embassy
General view of Jerusalem PHOTO: REUTERS
BUCHAREST:
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis Friday sharply criticised plans announced by the head of the ruling party to move the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Iohannis had "not been consulted or informed over this process," his office said in a statement, adding that in his opinion the decision was "not based on firm, wide-ranging evaluations".
On Thursday evening the head of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, told the Antena 3 TV channel: "The decision has been taken... procedures [for the move] have started."
However, the government of Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has not officially confirmed the news and a government spokesman refused to comment on the issue when asked by AFP.
Due to a previous two-year suspended prison sentence for electoral fraud, Dragnea could not take up the post of prime minister after the PSD won legislative elections at the end of 2016, but he is still as having a key role in party decisions.
Iohannis, who is from the centre-right and has expressed numerous disagreements with the government, claimed he had the authority to "take decisions relating to Romania's foreign policy" and underlined that Bucharest's position on the Israeli-Palestinian question "had not changed".
"At this stage a transfer of the embassy would represent a violation of international law," he said.
"The government's initiative could eventually represent, at the most, the beginning of a process of evaluation... which could only be finalised after the conclusion of peace talks," Iohannis added.
In December American President Donald Trump sparked global controversy by announcing that the US would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Romania would be the first EU country to follow suit. Israel occupied mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem and the surrounding region in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, declaring the whole city its capital.
However, neither move was recognised by the international community and the Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state.
The Romanian government will follow the United States and transfer its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader said Thursday.
"The decision has been taken (...), the procedures are beginning," Liviu Dragnea told Antena 3 television ahead of any official government announcement.
According to Dragnea, PSD Prime Minister Viorica Dancila's government agreed Wednesday on "the start of procedures with a view to the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem."
Russian TV channel critical of Israel blocked by YouTube in 28 countries
The government spokesman refused to comment when questioned by AFP, although rumours of an intended move from Tel Aviv leaked out last December.
President Donald Trump's call to shift the US embassy to the disputed city sparked deadly protests and 128 states condemned it in a United Nations General Assembly vote in December.
Only seven smaller countries aligned themselves with the United States and Israel.
Trump has mooted a trip to Jerusalem to open the embassy in May.
Romania would be the first European Union member to follow in US footsteps.
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Dragnea noted the "enormous symbolic value" of a move saying Israel "has a strong international influence" and it would be "very valuable for the American administration."
"I think the decision will produce major benefits for Romania," he added.
"This is also a pragmatic approach. Like all of us, Israel has the right to establish its capital where it wants," Dragnea said.
He had first mooted the transfer late last year but Romania's centre right President Klaus Iohannis opposed it saying the status of
Jerusalem should be settled between Israel and the Palestinians who both claim the holy city as their capital.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis Friday sharply criticised plans announced by the head of the ruling party to move the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Iohannis had "not been consulted or informed over this process," his office said in a statement, adding that in his opinion the decision was "not based on firm, wide-ranging evaluations".
On Thursday evening the head of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, told the Antena 3 TV channel: "The decision has been taken... procedures [for the move] have started."
However, the government of Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has not officially confirmed the news and a government spokesman refused to comment on the issue when asked by AFP.
Due to a previous two-year suspended prison sentence for electoral fraud, Dragnea could not take up the post of prime minister after the PSD won legislative elections at the end of 2016, but he is still as having a key role in party decisions.
Iohannis, who is from the centre-right and has expressed numerous disagreements with the government, claimed he had the authority to "take decisions relating to Romania's foreign policy" and underlined that Bucharest's position on the Israeli-Palestinian question "had not changed".
"At this stage a transfer of the embassy would represent a violation of international law," he said.
"The government's initiative could eventually represent, at the most, the beginning of a process of evaluation... which could only be finalised after the conclusion of peace talks," Iohannis added.
In December American President Donald Trump sparked global controversy by announcing that the US would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Romania would be the first EU country to follow suit. Israel occupied mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem and the surrounding region in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, declaring the whole city its capital.
However, neither move was recognised by the international community and the Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state.
The Romanian government will follow the United States and transfer its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader said Thursday.
"The decision has been taken (...), the procedures are beginning," Liviu Dragnea told Antena 3 television ahead of any official government announcement.
According to Dragnea, PSD Prime Minister Viorica Dancila's government agreed Wednesday on "the start of procedures with a view to the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem."
Russian TV channel critical of Israel blocked by YouTube in 28 countries
The government spokesman refused to comment when questioned by AFP, although rumours of an intended move from Tel Aviv leaked out last December.
President Donald Trump's call to shift the US embassy to the disputed city sparked deadly protests and 128 states condemned it in a United Nations General Assembly vote in December.
Only seven smaller countries aligned themselves with the United States and Israel.
Trump has mooted a trip to Jerusalem to open the embassy in May.
Romania would be the first European Union member to follow in US footsteps.
Air India asks to fly over Saudi Arabia on planned Israel route
Dragnea noted the "enormous symbolic value" of a move saying Israel "has a strong international influence" and it would be "very valuable for the American administration."
"I think the decision will produce major benefits for Romania," he added.
"This is also a pragmatic approach. Like all of us, Israel has the right to establish its capital where it wants," Dragnea said.
He had first mooted the transfer late last year but Romania's centre right President Klaus Iohannis opposed it saying the status of
Jerusalem should be settled between Israel and the Palestinians who both claim the holy city as their capital.