PH Embassy won’t be moved to Jerusalem: DFA

MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Israel located in Tel Aviv clarified that no announcement was made it will be moved to Jerusalem following reports that came out last week claiming President Rodrigo Duterte reached out to the foreign ministry to discuss the issue.

“Wala pong announcement na ililipat ang Embassy,” it responded on Thursday when asked to confirm if reports were true.

Israeli news sites said as United States President Donald Trump prepares to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, the Philippines and an unnamed Eastern European country reportedly contacted the Israel governement to discuss the matter.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, “the Philippines has always supported the policy of two states for two peoples as a long-term solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”

This is consistent with the country’s vote in favor of the Partition Plan for Palestine in the United Nations in 1947, it added.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, “the Philippines has always supported the policy of two states for two peoples as a long-term solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”

This is consistent with the country’s vote in favor of the Partition Plan for Palestine in the United Nations in 1947, it added.

The UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947 adopted resolution 181 (II), which partitioned Palestine into an Arab State and a Jewish State, eventually leading to the establishment of Israel as the Jewish state.

The partition plan, a detailed four-part document attached to the resolution, included point that Jerusalem is to be administered by the United Nations Trusteeship Council.

After Trump called Jerusalem capital of Israel on Dec. 6, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored there is no alternative to the two-state solution and that Jerusalem is an issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations between the parties.

He reiterated the position against “unilateral measures” that would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

In a statement, he said it is only by realizing the vision of two states “living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Palestine, and all final status issues resolved permanently through negotiations,” that the legitimate aspirations of both peoples will be achieved.