A picture of the building of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv. Photo: Embassy website
The Russian embassy in Israel said in a statement that a deal over a West Jerusalem land plot, which Russia acquired in 1885, was signed with Jerusalem municipality on 18 May, following a years-long process.
“The land property will be used, in particular, for the construction of a complex of buildings and structures used for the needs of the branch office of the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Israel,” the statement added.
The land on which the new complex will be built has long been the subject of dispute between Moscow and the Jerusalem municipality over its exact area, taxes and other bureaucratic matters.
Israel, which has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967, considers the whole city its capital, while the Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of their own future state.
Most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, as the international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, believing Jerusalem’s status should be resolved in negotiations.
The only countries with embassies in Jerusalem are the US (opened under former President Donald Trump), Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo. However, multiple countries do operate consular offices in Jerusalem.
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