Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano invalidated media reports in Israel that Philippines is one of the ten countries that is planning to relocate its embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, tagging the move as a “blind giant leap.”
After the news broke on an Israeli public radio, Cayetano clarified the Philippines’ stand in a television interview.
“To be fair to Israel they haven’t told or asked us to transfer our embassy,” Cayetano told GMA News.
“We have communicated clearly to all our friends in the Middle East that there hasn’t been any discussion or move to move our embassy from Tel Aviv,” he added.
He also said that the Philippine government supports a peaceful resolution of conflict, and vowed that a thorough study will be conducted before making any moves.
“We are for peaceful resolution of conflict… In diplomacy, unless there is an urgent situation, you don’t just take a blind giant leap. You study all of these. There’s going to be a balancing act. Plus, there’s so much history and context there,” Cayetano said.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 12/ 27/ 17)