After U.S. move, Israel eyeing site for an ‘embassy quarter’ in Jerusalem
The Housing and Construction Ministry began examining a site for a neighborhood of embassies in Jerusalem.
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: DECEMBER 13, 2018 01:12Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu stand next to the dedication plaque of the US embassy in Jerusalem, May 14, 2018.(photo credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
The Housing and Construction Ministry is examining a site in East Talpiot for an embassy row in the capital. Thus far, only the US and Guatemala have moved their embassy to Jerusalem, but several other countries have said they are weighing moving their embassies, including Australia,Brazil, Honduras and the Czech Republic.Now Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Galant is preparing for the possibility of an influx of embassies, eyeing a 100,000 sq. m. plot of state land in East Talpiot.“I am convinced that many more countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem,” Galant said. “Therefore I instructed my ministry to come up with scenarios for appropriate solutions for the embassies in the future, including a unique ‘embassies quarter.’”Galant plans for the area to include buildings in which nine countries can have their embassies, as well as housing for workers nearby. It would be surrounded by a wall for security, but still allow for there to be a view of the Old City.The proposed “embassies quarter” is within pre-1967 lines, and would be 1.5 km from the West Bank separation barrier.“I turn to the nations of the world and say: moving embassies to Jerusalem, our eternal capital, is the right thing to do. Hurry, the best places will be given away fast,” Galant said.Other capitals in the world, like Washington and London, have concentrated areas with many embassies, some official and some unofficial.Currently, there are several embassies on Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv, but there is no official embassy row and they are not necessarily adjacent to one another. Some embassies that claim to be in Tel Aviv are technically in Ramat Gan.
