Romania to move Israel embassy to Jerusalem

Romania has begun efforts to move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea announced on Thursday.

If the move goes ahead it will make Romania the first European country to shift their embassy to the disputed city, following a controversial decision by the US to do so.

Read more: Jerusalem: Three things to know

The planned move

• Liviu Dragnea told Antena 3 television that the government had agreed on "the start of procedures with a view to the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem."
• "The decision has been taken ... the procedures are beginning," he said.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday six countries were in serious discussions to move and that he would offer preferential treatment to the first 10 countries to move.

Read more: Donald Trump says he may travel to Jerusalem for embassy opening

'Symbolic value'

Dragnea said the move would have "enormous symbolic value" and that Israel "has a strong international influence."

"I think the decision will produce major benefits for Romania," he added. "This is also a pragmatic approach. Like all of us, Israel has the right to establish its capital where it wants."

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israeli media she welcomed the announcement and her meetings in Romania had convinced her the move would happen.

Romanian President Iohannis said on Friday he had not been informed or consulted about the decision and urged all government and political actors to show "responsibility and discernment regarding major foreign policy decisions that have strategic effects including on national security."

Read more: Israel at 70: What does the future hold?

Why it matters: Every additional nation that moves their embassy to Jerusalem helps Israel legitimatize its control of the disputed city. Any future Palestinian state would want Jerusalem to be its capital as part of a two-state solution. The US decision to move its embassy and break with decades of policy was met with international condemnation. Furthermore, the decision from Romania, a European Union member, breaks with the bloc’s position that the city’s status is still subject to peace talks.

Read more: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu urges EU to recognize 'reality' of Jerusalem status

The US decision: Trump announced in December that he would relocate the US diplomatic mission and recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, something which had previously been earmarked for peace-talk negotiation. US Vice President Mike Pence announced in February the shift would happen in May to coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary, enraging Palestinians.

Status of Jerusalem:  The city’s status has been a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel captured the city in the 1967 Middle East War and later annexed it. It claims the entire city as its capital. Palestinians claim Arab East Jerusalem as the future capital of an independent state. Most of the international community and the UN don't recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or its annexation of east Jerusalem.

Romanian situation: Centrist President Klaus Iohannis must OK the decision, but has previously said the city’s status is subject to negotiations. Romania has faced a rift with the EU over legislation it says will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption. Dragnea keeps a tight grip on his party and is seen as effectively in charge of the cabinet.

Read more: 8 things you need to know about Romania's culture

Czech Republic next? Next week, Israel's Hotovely is due to visit the Czech Republic, which was one of the 35 countries to abstain from a UN vote condemning the US move. Israeli media has speculated the EU member could be the next country to move its embassy.