Czech Foreign Minister Vows to Move Embassy to Jerusalem

In a bold declaration of support for Israel, the Czech Republic’s new foreign minister, Petr Macinka, announced Monday his intention to move the country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The announcement was made during a Hanukkah lighting ceremony in Prague, only hours after Macinka officially took office.

“It should have been done a long time ago,” Macinka said, echoing a sentiment widely shared among pro-Israel supporters who have long advocated for nations to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

The move, if carried out, would mark a historic shift in European foreign policy and make the Czech Republic one of the few nations on the continent to take this courageous step. The United States led the way in 2018 under President Donald Trump, followed by several others, but most European countries have hesitated until now.

During his remarks, Macinka also condemned the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney that claimed 15 lives during a Jewish Chanukah celebration. He expressed deep solidarity with the victims and emphasized that moving the embassy to Jerusalem is not just symbolic it is a tangible act of friendship with the Jewish people.

Israel’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Amir Weissbrod, praised the foreign minister's attendance and statement. “In Prague, many people gathered to celebrate the holiday together and express solidarity in the fight against antisemitism,” he wrote on X. “This evening there was an exceptional atmosphere.”

Macinka’s announcement reflects the tone of the Czech Republic’s newly sworn-in populist government, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The administration is expected to mirror the policies of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico leaders who have emphasized national sovereignty, strengthened ties with Israel, and pushed back against certain EU foreign policy norms.

According to senior officials, Babiš is planning to visit Israel early next year and could formally announce the embassy move during that trip.

The Czech Republic has taken steps toward this goal before. In 2018, it opened a “Czech House” in Jerusalem, serving as an initial step toward full diplomatic representation in the city. In 2020, then-President Miloš Zeman also voiced support for the embassy’s relocation.

But Macinka’s remarks mark the clearest and most determined statement to date and one that comes at a time when Israel’s allies are needed more than ever.

As antisemitism surges globally and Jews face renewed threats, the Czech Republic’s affirmation of Israel’s capital sends a powerful message of unity and recognition.

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