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Paraguay Returns to Jerusalem Via Commercial Bureau

President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benitez gestures as he meets supporters in Asuncion, Paraguay, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno
President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benitez gestures as he meets supporters in Asuncion, Paraguay, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno
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Paraguay Returns to Jerusalem Via Commercial Bureau

President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benitez gestures as he meets supporters in Asuncion, Paraguay, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno
President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benitez gestures as he meets supporters in Asuncion, Paraguay, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno

President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benitez has agreed to open a “diplomatic commercial bureau” in West Jerusalem after coming under Israeli and US pressure.

Benitez’ decision came a year after deciding to shut down Paraguay’s embassy in Jerusalem and relocate it to Tel Aviv.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed his latest decision, saying that consolidating the position of Jerusalem is a priority for the cabinet and the foreign ministry.

Opening an office is a significant first step that would hopefully be succeeded by other steps such as reopening Paraguay’s embassy to Jerusalem, Katz added.

The FM affirmed that Benitez’ decision was the result of relentless efforts made by the foreign ministry in cooperation with the US administration for the sake of rapprochement between Israel and Paraguay.

Once coming to office last year, Benitez, who is of Lebanese origin, reversed a decision by former President Horacio Cartes to move the diplomatic site to Jerusalem

Back then, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to his move by closing the Israeli embassy in Paraguay and summoning the ambassador for consultations.

Israel also turned to Washington to assist it in pressuring Paraguay into altering its decision.

According to diplomatic sources in Tel Aviv, Benitez’ decision wasn’t only the result of Arab pressure but mainly disappointment with Israel after no Israeli official visited the country and no Israeli businessmen fulfilled their promises to invest there.

When Israel started to change its policy and appointed a new ambassador, the president’s approach changed as well. He took an abrupt decision by declaring Hezbollah and Hamas "terrorist organizations."

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Arab World

Moscow Open to Dialogue with Trump on Syria

The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
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Moscow Open to Dialogue with Trump on Syria

The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)

Russia, Iran, and Türkiye have called for an end to Israel’s military escalation in the Middle East, expressing concern over the worsening regional situation and warning of negative impacts on Syria.
At the conclusion of the 22nd round of Syria talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to a political solution, focused on restarting the work of the Constitutional Committee.
The escalation in the region, combined with the uncertainty following US President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, was a major topic of discussion in Astana, both during bilateral talks and in broader sessions.
The Russian delegation was led by Alexander Lavrentiev, Special Representative for Syria, while Iran’s delegation was headed by Ali Asghar Haji, Senior Political Advisor to the Foreign Minister. Türkiye’s delegation was led by Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Director-General for Syrian Affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
The Syrian government delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Riad, and the opposition delegation, led by Ahmad Tohme, were also present.
Representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with observers from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, attended the talks.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen was also present.
Sources at the meetings told Asharq Al-Awsat that much of the discussion focused on the impact of ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon and their effects on Syria, particularly amid Israel’s efforts to expand the conflict.
There was a strong emphasis on preventing Syria from becoming further embroiled in the growing conflict. Additionally, the impact of Trump’s election on US policy towards the region and Syria was widely discussed, with increasing speculation that Trump might follow through on promises to withdraw US troops from Syria.
This issue was highlighted by Russia’s envoy, Lavrentiev, at the close of the talks.
Lavrentiev stated that Russia is open to talks with the new US administration once it is in place to discuss issues related to Syria.
“If there are proposals, Russia is open and ready to continue communication with the US,” he added.
According to Lavrentiev, “Some compromises can only be reached through negotiations.”
A source from the Syrian opposition, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, said there is a shared view that a US withdrawal from Syria is “not inevitable, even if Trump has mentioned it.”
The source noted that Trump has become more pragmatic and responsive to the "deep state," with a better understanding of foreign policy.
The source also pointed out that Türkiye shares this view. While Ankara wants the US to leave, it does not want a unilateral withdrawal without coordination, especially since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are open to talks with both the Syrian government and Russia.

The discussions also highlighted that, despite Israel's efforts to reduce Iranian influence in the region, it is unlikely that Trump will push for a withdrawal under the current situation.