White House praises Guatemala for moving embassy to Jerusalem

The White House on Thursday praised Guatemala for joining the U.S. in relocating its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem this week.

“We thank our Western Hemisphere partner for joining us in recognizing Israel’s capital and encourage additional moves,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

“We look forward to welcoming many more of our friends and allies in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel,” Sanders added.

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Guatemala the opening of its new embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, two days after the U.S. opened its new embassy in the same city. 

Paraguay has said it will also move its embassy to Jerusalem, and Romania, the Czech Republic and Honduras have said they’re considering the move, The Associated Press reported.

A delegation of U.S. officials and White House aides celebrated the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday as protests raged near the Gaza border. Israeli soldiers killed more than 50 Palestinians during the protests.

The White House has blamed the violence on Hamas.

Trump’s decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv fulfilled a campaign promise, despite pushback from European and Middle Eastern leaders who warned that doing so could undermine peace talks in the region.