Budapest, Hungary – Hungary President Katalin Novak said Friday his country has taken no decision on moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
He was reacting to a report in The Times of Israel that Hungary will shift its embassy to Jerusalem next month as a mark of support for Israel by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Reuters reported.
If Hungary shifts its capital to Jerusalem, it will become the first European Union country to do so, the report said.
Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, but most countries refuse to recognize the claim due to its dispute under international law and a pending resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
“I also read news in the press,” the Hungarian President Novak said. “In Hungary, a decision so far has not been made on moving our embassy in Israel,” he added.
“The ministry would provide updates on any changes to the embassy in all cases,” Hungary’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mate Paczolay said, while refusing to confirm the report.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman did not comment on the issue.
Over the years, Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban has assisted Netanyahu by blocking EU activities that criticized Israel in the past, the report said.