MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine embassy in Israel denied any plans to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, contrary to reports last week that President Rodrigo Duterte had reached out to Israel’s foreign ministry to discuss the matter.
“Wala pong announcement na ililipat ang embassy (There is no announcement of the embassy’s transfer),” it replied to queries.
Israeli news sites reported that as United States President Donald Trump prepares to recognize Jerusalem as the Middle East country’s capital, the Philippines and an unnamed Eastern European country reportedly contacted the government to discuss a similar move.
However, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that, “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 U.N. 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.
Reacting to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel on December 6, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said there is no alternative to the two-state solution and reiterated warnings against “unilateral measures” that could jeopardize the prospect of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
