The leader of Romania's ruling Social Democrats said the government had approved a memorandum to relocate its embassy in Israel from its current Tel Aviv location to Jerusalem, one of the first countries to follow the United States' lead.
On Dec. 6, U.S. President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, infuriating Washington's Arab allies and dismaying Palestinians who envision the eastern part of the city as their future capital.
Currently, to avoid making a political statement on Jerusalem, most countries house their Israel embassies in Tel Aviv, the commercial center of Israel, despite the fact that Israel's government resides in Jerusalem, the city that Israel considers its capital.
Under Romanian legislation, a final embassy relocation decision belongs to centrist President Klaus Iohannis, who said he had not been consulted. The Romanian government and foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the information.
"Yesterday, the government adopted a memorandum deciding to start the procedure to effectively move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," Social Democrat leader and lower house speaker Liviu Dragnea told private television station Antena3 late Thursday.
Dragnea keeps a tight grip on his party and is seen as effectively in charge of the cabinet.
Romanian President Iohannis said in a statement on Friday that 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."
"Such a decision must be taken only after consulting and securing the approval of all foreign policy and national security institutions, with a final decision belonging to the president, according to the constitution," he said.
"Our gesture has a huge symbolic value for Israel," Social Democrat leader Dragnea said, "a state with an unbelievably large influence in the world and with which we have had a special relationship for many years."
"Moving the embassy to Jerusalem can, and I believe will, bring short, medium and long-term benefits for Romania and we must use this huge chance and opportunity," he said.
Meanwhile Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "at least half a dozen" countries were considering relocating their embassies to Jerusalem, following the U.S. decision to do so.
The U.S. Embassy is due to relocate to Jerusalem on May 14, the date on which Israel declared its independence in 1948.
"In order to promote peace … move your embassies here," Netanyahu told foreign diplomats at a reception marking Israel's 70th Independence Day, held Thursday at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
"There are two things you can do to help Israel celebrate this great Independence Day," he said. "The first thing is – speak out against Iran. Iran is the enemy of us all – of Israel, the Arab world, of civilization."
"The second thing you can do to advance peace is to move your embassy here. We are delighted with President Trumps' decision to move the embassy here. It says a simple thing: Peace must be based on truth," Netanyahu said.
The fact that "Israel has a capital, that the Jewish people have had a capital for 3,000 years and it's called Jerusalem – is uncontestable," Netanyahu said.
He thanked Guatemala, which decided to move its embassy soon after the U.S. announcement, but he did not name the other countries he said were considering following suit.
"I am pleased to say that there are at least half a dozen countries that are currently talking seriously to us about moving their embassies to Jerusalem," Netanyahu said.
The first 10 embassies to relocate to Jerusalem would receive "preferential treatment," he said without explaining what that might entail.
Guatemalan Ambassador to the U.N. Jorge Skinner-Klée took part in the event and said that Guatemala's "positive feelings" for Jerusalem had grown not only because of the Bible but also because the modern state of Israel's values, which he said contributed so much to the world in fields such as science and technology.
"I believe that the ties between our two countries will continue to grow stronger," Skinner-Klée said.
A U.S. official said the embassy would be located at a provisional site in Jerusalem that now houses a U.S. consular section. Building a permanent embassy could take several years.
Speaking at the same event, President Reuven Rivlin said, "We might have to build fences to stop terrorists or take other action to ensure the safety of our people, but we will never close the door to peace."
"For 70 years, Israel has shared knowledge and experience in our region and throughout the entire world. From food security to cyber defense, Israel is creating a better future for us all," he said.
In related news, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin left on Thursday for a visit to Guatemala and Honduras. Levin is slated to meet with Guatemalan President Jaime Morales and President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández, as well as both countries' tourism ministers.
Levin is expected to express Israel's thanks to the Guatemalan government for its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and discuss the possibility of Honduras doing likewise in his meeting with Hernández.
