PARAGUAY - Reopens Embassy in Jerusalem
Newly inaugurated Paraguayan President Santiago Pena has pledged to relocate the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv for the second time in the last five years, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) said.
Israel has long campaigned to strengthen international recognition of its hold on Jerusalem by pushing its allies to relocate their embassies to the country’s capital.
The United States was the first country to do so in 2018 and was followed by Guatemala, Honduras, and Kosovo. The countries that have embassies in Jerusalem acknowledge that the city is Israel’s capital, while many in the international community refuse to issue such a recognition.
At the inauguration, Cohen also secured a pledge from Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou to open a diplomatic office in Jerusalem for cooperation and innovation. Several other countries have taken that move as an initial nod in the direction of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“We will build alliances and cooperation with a geostrategic vision,” Pena said in his inaugural speech, adding that Paraguay’s relationship with Taiwan “is an example of this and of Paraguay’s friendly and cooperative spirit with nations.”
Pena, 44, secured a solid election victory in April and replaced Mario Abdo Benitez. Both are from the conservative Colorado Party, which has dominated Paraguayan politics for the last three-quarters of a century.
-www.jpost.com, 16 August 2023
Arno's Commentary
Paraguay is a country not often in the news. Its population stands at 7.5 million people, with 89.6% listed as Catholic. Although life expectancy is close to the US at 78.6 years, per capita GDP is low at $13,700 (2021).
It is a political victory for Jewish Jerusalem to have some nations follow the lead of the USA in placing their embassy in Jerusalem. We must add, however, that the practical operation of all nations’ embassies is still located in Tel Aviv.
What’s so important about Jerusalem? The Jewish Agency explains: “Jerusalem has been known by 70 names in biblical and post-biblical literature. Some of the better known names follow,” and then lists the first 19 names explained in English:
• Adonay Yireh The Lord is seen (Gen 22:14)
• Ariel Lion of God (Is 29:1)
• Betulah Virgin (Lam 1:16)
• Drushah Sought After (Is 62:12)
• Gai Hizayon Valley of Vision (Is 22:1)
• Gilah Joy (Is 65:18)
• Ir Ha’Elohim City of God (Ps 87:2)
• Ir Ha’Emet City of Truth (Zech 8:3)
• Jebus (Judges 19:10)
• Kir City (Ezek 13:14)
• Kiriyah Aliza Joyful City (Is 22:2)
• Kiryat Hannah David City Where David Camped (Is 29:1)
• Kiryah Ne’emanah Faithful City (Is 1:25)
• Klilat Yoffi Paragon of Beauty (Lam 2:15)
• Moriah (Gen 22:2)
• Neveh Zedek Righteous Dwelling (Jer 31:22)
• Oholivah My Tent is in Her (Ezek 23:4)
• Shalem Peace (Whole) (Gen 14:18)
• Tzur Hamishor Rock of the Plain (Jer 21:13)
About this most important city in human history, Jesus exclaimed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37). Here we see man’s free will clearly expressed: “but you were not willing.” However, it’s not the end of Jerusalem, because a prophecy—based on the will of God—is yet to be fulfilled: “Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain” (Zechariah 8:3).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
