Cayetano denies reports Philippines transferring embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

December 26, 2017

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday denied the Philippines is transferring its embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“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,” Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

An Israeli public radio, according to a wire report, said 10 countries, including the Philippines, Romania and South Sudan, are considering moving their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem after talks with Israel.

The Philippines was among the 35 countries that abstained from voting in the United Nations last week on US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

A majority of UN members declared the US decision null and void.

Cayetano defended the Philippine decision to abstain on the UN’s Jerusalem vote.

“We don’t want any country to tell us where we can or can’t put an embassy so we can’t condemn the US for making that decision,” he said.

Cayetano stressed “a big part of our foreign policy is the 10 million Filipinos abroad” – majority of which are based in the Middle East.

“That’s why friends to all and enemies to none is very important,” he said. “Some people will see abstain or not voting not a principled vote. But sometimes that is the principled vote.” DMS