Following in the United States’ footsteps, Guatemala opened on Wednesday its Israel embassy in the holy city of Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales were among officials attending an inauguration ceremony at the new embassy at an office park in the disputed city at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The move followed Washington’s inauguration on Monday that drew international condemnation and violent clashes at the Gaza border that saw Israeli forces kill 60 Palestinian protesters.
Israel’s violent reaction to the protesters drew global criticism and mounting calls for an investigation.
The US and Guatemalan moves break with decades of international consensus.
Netanyahu profusely praised the Central American nation for making the move and noted it came only two days after the United States opened its embassy.
"You were always among the first," he said. "We remember our friends and Guatemala is our friend, then and now."
The Israeli premier said he would visit Guatemala on his next visit to Latin America.
Paraguay said it will also relocate its embassy.
