Papua New Guinea to open Jerusalem embassy

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced today that Papua New Guinea (PNG) will open an embassy in Jerusalem in 2023.

Cohen spoke with his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Justin Tkachenko, last Wednesday to discuss the opening of the embassy. They also spoke about deepening and expanding economic relations between the two nations.

Cohen announced the move in a tweet: “Good week with good news. Another embassy moves up to Jerusalem.”

שבוע טוב עם בשורות טובות.
עוד שגרירות עולה לירושלים🇮🇱🇵🇬 pic.twitter.com/wuOl3TQN45

— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) February 26, 2023

“I thank Papua New Guinea for the close relationship, the overwhelming support at international institutions and the decision to establish an embassy in Jerusalem. This is further evidence of the warm and important relationship between the countries,” said Cohen.

Papua New Guinea, which is a predominantly Christian nation, has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1978. However, the nation had yet to establish an embassy in Israel.

Tkachenko also promised Cohen that his country would continue to support Israel in international arenas.

By establishing its embassy in Jerusalem, PNG joins a small group of nations to recognize the Jewish capital.

Only the United States, Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusalem. Under the leadership of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. finally fulfilled its 1995 promise to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

Most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite western Jerusalem being included in the original partition agreement. Some countries have, instead, opted to establish trade offices in Jerusalem, while maintaining embassies in Tel Aviv.

Cohen indicated that getting more countries to recognize Jerusalem is a priority.

“We at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work to transfer more diplomatic missions to the city of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the people of Israel," Cohen said.