(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi met today (Tuesday, 3 November 2020), with the Foreign Minister of Malawi, Eisenhower Mkaka.
During the meeting, FM Mkaka conveyed a message from Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera according to which Malawi intends to open a permanent embassy in Israel and establish it in the Jerusalem by the summer of 2021
FM Ashkenazi: “I wish to congratulate the Malawi Government on its important groundbreaking decision to be the first African country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem.
“This decision is further testament to the bonds between our two countries and to the expansion of the circle of peace. The city of Jerusalem, Israel’s eternal capital, will be a bridge of peace to the entire world and I call on other countries to follow Malawi’s example and transfer their embassies to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.”
Israel and Malawi enjoy a warm historical relationship. Nyasaland, as Malawi was known before its independence, granted refuge to persecuted Jews during the Holocaust. Malawi is one of the few countries in Africa that has had continuous ties with Israel since 1964. For many years, the State of Israel has provided a great deal of assistance to Malawi, primarily in the agricultural field.
Malawi’s announcement joins similar announcements from Honduras, Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo who have recently announced their decision to establish an embassy in Jerusalem. This is a significant achievement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose goals include increasing the number of foreign embassies in Israel’s capital.