Czech President Milos Zeman visited his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin at his residence in Jerusalem, during which he underscored that while for decades the international community discussed the inception of two independent states as the only solution to the decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Prague could not share this position, as he does not see an “independent state in the Gaza Strip,” as he views the Islamic Hamas that controls that territory as a terrorist organization. According to the Czech President, “For many, many decades there is a discussion about two independent states but frankly I do not see independent states in Gaza Strip because I understand Hamas is a terroristic organization and not as a state.”
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, who warmly welcomed the staunch support for the state Israel from his Czech counterpart, thanked President Zeman for his decision to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem – during his visit to Israel – which will serve as a first step in the direction of relocating Prague’s embassy in the country to Jerusalem, the capital of the state of Israel. The Israeli President was quoted saying that “In the current situation our friendship is more important than ever. We welcome your support for the eventual move of the embassy of the Czech Republic to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of peace.”