Despite the recent controversy over the invitation to Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez to take part in Israel's 70th Independence Day celebrations and his subsequent withdrawal from the event, the Honduran parliament voted Thursday night to relocate the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Before the decision can be implemented, it must be approved by the executive branch of the Honduran government.
A total of 59 members of the National Congress voted in favor of moving the embassy to Jerusalem, with 33 voting against the move.
National Congress First Secretary Jose Tomas Zambrano Molina said, "A notice has been sent to the secretary of state in the Foreign Ministry who handles [Honduras'] ties to the Israeli people, according to which Honduras should consider moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv."
In December 2017, Hernandez followed the lead of U.S. President Donald Trump in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and in announcing a decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. The U.S. administration thanked Honduras for its support.
In March, Israel announced it would be expanding cooperation with Honduras. The head of the Mashav international outreach program in the Foreign Ministry, Gil Haskell, and Honduran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria del Carmen Nasser de Ramos issued a joint announcement saying, "Honduras and Israel have strengthened their ties of friendship and cooperation." They said they would address issues including security, economic development, education, health, and the environment.
Despite antipathy toward Israel in international forums, Honduras has consistently supported the country, and receives considerable aid from Israel.
According to Haskell, in the past 50 years more than 500 Hondurans have taken part in courses in Israel, a number that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to increase to 100 each year.
