Czech Republic expected to become first EU state to move embassy to Israel’s capital Jerusalem

The Czech Republic is reportedly preparing to announce the relocation of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to a report by Ynet on Saturday. A senior Czech official is said to have informed an Israeli counterpart that the Prague government has decided to proceed with the move in the near future. If carried out, the Czech Republic would become the first European Union member state to establish its embassy in Jerusalem.

The city of Jerusalem is Israel’s de facto capital and has been the capital of the Jewish nation for the past 3,000 years. However, most countries have not officially recognized it as Israel’s capital, citing political, religious, and diplomatic considerations tied to the ongoing conflict with the Palestinian Authority.

The Czech Republic is widely considered one of the Jewish state’s closest allies in the European Union, frequently backing Israel at international forums and, on several occasions, blocking anti-Israel political initiatives within the EU. 

In December 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The following year, in 2018, the U.S. embassy was relocated to its new home in Jerusalem. That same year, the Czech Republic established an office for cultural and economic affairs in the city, which later expanded to offer consular services.

In December 2022, former Czech President Miloš Zeman, who is a vocal Israel supporter, publicly recommended that his country move its embassy to Jerusalem. However, the move was not implemented at the time, likely due to concerns that it could damage the Czech Republic’s diplomatic ties and trade with the Arab and wider Muslim world.

Six countries currently have their embassies in Jerusalem: the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Paraguay, New Guinea and Kosovo, which became the first Muslim-majority state to relocate its embassy to the Israeli capital. 

In February 2025, the Republic of Fiji became the seventh nation to announce its intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem. 

“I congratulate Fiji on its decision to open an embassy in Israel, in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. I thank Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sitibani Rabuka, a friend of Israel, for passing the decision today in the Fijian government,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote on 𝕏 at the time. 

If realized, the Czech Republic would become the eighth country to move its embassy to Jerusalem. 

On Wednesday, Hungary became the first EU state to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes” in the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. 

Hungary, another close European ally of Israel, announced it would leave the ICJ due to the court’s controversial decision. 

In June 2023, former Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen claimed that Hungary would move its embassy to Jerusalem. Hungary maintains an honorary consulate in Jerusalem and has indicated a willingness to potentially move its embassy in the future. However, Budapest has also signaled that it would not want to become the first EU member state to make such a move.

A potential move of the Czech embassy to Jerusalem could potentially encourage Hungary to follow suit.