Malawi to open embassy in Jerusalem
The southeastern African state follows several other countries in placing its embassy to Israel in the holy city.
Malawi will reportedly open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. The southeastern African state is the latest in a string of countries to place their embassies in the religiously significant and disputed city after the United States did so.
Malawian Foreign Minister Eisenhower Mkaka announced the decision on a trip to Israel on Tuesday. The embassy will officially open in Jerusalem by summer 2021, Reuters reported. Malawi will be the first African state to have its embassy to Israel in the city. The country does not currently have an embassy in Israel.
Most countries recognize Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel and therefore have their embassies there. Israel and the State of Palestine both claim Jerusalem as their capital, however. In 2018, the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem after recognizing the city as Israel’s capital.
Several countries have since announced they will likewise move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem. Honduras decided to move its embassy to Jerusalem in September and plans to open the new embassy by the end of the year. Serbia and Kosovo also decided to move their embassies to Jerusalem and will do so in 2021.
