Plans by Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party to follow the US President Donald Trump’s lead on Israel and move Romania’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem have sparked turmoil in Romania – and concern in the Middle East.
With Paraguay announcing that it was also ready to move its embassy to Jerusalem on May 9, and the Czech Republic announcing on April 26 that it was set to reopen its consulate in Jerusalem, Romanian politicians have debated whether Bucharest should also turn its back on the European Union’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Romania’s Foreign Minister, Teodor Melescanu, was summoned by parliament Foreign Policy Committee on Wednesday, where he admitted that such a foreign policy shift could have consequences for the country’s international relations.
“We have mutual agreements with 43 Arab and Muslim states to support each other at the UN, including in terms of Romania’s candidacy for a non-permanent spot in the Security Council. We’ll have to see the extent to which things will evolve,” he told the hearing.
