On Monday, Paraguay became the third country to open its embassy in Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opened the embassy in the Malha Technological Park, the same building where Guatemala inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem last week.

During the ceremony, Netanyahu noted that Paraguay is a “true friend” of Israel. He recalled that Paraguay helped Jews escape Nazi Germany before and during the Holocaust and supported Israel during the partition vote in the UN in 1947. “Paraguay, before but especially under your leadership, took a very bold stance in international affairs and refused to cooperate with the lies directed against Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Cartes indicated that the embassy opening “expresses the sincere friendship and brave solidarity” between the two countries. He also said: “From the depth of my heart, I appreciate this country that courageously defends its right to live in peace and it is building a praiseworthy economically prosperous state that ensures its future and that of its children.”

During his ceremony speech, Netanyahu indicated that cooperation with Paraguay would be “greater in several areas including agriculture, security and technology.”

In 2016, Cartes became the first Paraguayan president to visit Israel. The President and Prime Minister met for a second time in 2017 in Buenos Aires on Netanyahu’s first trip to Latin America.

Paraguay’s embassy opening comes exactly one week after the United States opened its embassy in an existing consular building in the neighborhood of Arnona in Jerusalem, an area which has been in the hands of Israel since 1948.

Two days later, Guatemala opened its embassy in Jerusalem as well.

Other countries have expressed desire to move their embassies to Jerusalem including the Czech Republic and Romania. In upcoming weeks, it is expected that Honduras will announce its embassy move to Jerusalem.

[Photo: YouTube/ euronews]