Czech Republic recognizes West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

The Czech Republic announced Wednesday that it will recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, hours after President Trump’s own Jerusalem declaration on behalf of the U.S. 

Earlier Wednesday, Trump declared that the U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, but the statement out of Prague specifically cited the possibility that the ancient city could serve a dual purpose in future peace talks.

“The Czech Republic together with other EU member states, following the EU Foreign Affaires Council Conclusions, considers Jerusalem to be future capital of both states, meaning the State of Israel and the future State of Palestine,” the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 

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The ministry made clear that it only recognized the western half of Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, the borders of the city before Israel seized control of the eastern half in the Six-Day War of 1967. 

While Israel retains control of both halves currently, the Palestinians have a stronghold in the West Bank and claim that the holy city should also be the capital of a future Palestinian state. 

In his historic declaration on Wednesday, Trump also said he plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, a move that many fear could strain tensions in the region and set back negotiations for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. 

While the Czech Republic broke with some other European Union members who do not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it said it would only consider moving its embassy there after “negotiations with key partners.”