Fourth Guatemala city to name square 'Jerusalem capital of Israel'

A plaque displaying a street in Guatemala called ‘Jerusalem the capital of Israel’

Israeli Ambassador Mattanya Cohen with Tiquisate mayor after a city in Guatemala renamed streets, squares and parks to ‘Jerusalem the capital of Israel’.

Four cities in Guatemala have renamed streets, squares and parks “Jerusalem the capital of Israel”, YNet news reported on Wednesday.

In May, Guatemala became the second country to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognise the holy city as Israel’s undivided capital.

The move came after US Donald Trump announced his administration’s decision to make the move.

This month, San Jose will become the fourth Guatemalan city to inaugurate a square named “Jerusalem the Capital of Israel”, following in the footsteps of the cities of Guastatoya in June, San Diego in August and Tiquisate in September.

Though numerous cities around the world have streets named after regions or cities in other countries, this is the first time the name “Jerusalem the capital of Israel” will be used, following an Israeli embassy drive to urge officials to do so.

Minister: Paraguay decision to return embassy to Tel Aviv ‘final’

“It is not merely ‘Jerusalem’, of which streets throughout the world carry that name, but ‘Jerusalem the capital of Israel’, as an official name, so that no one will have any doubts,” the embassy explained.

The US’ decision to transferred its embassy to Jerusalem caused international outraged and led to worldwide protests. In Gaza, some 61 Palestinians were killed in protests after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on unarmed protesters at the same time that the embassy was being inaugurated by Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner.

US embassy moved to Jerusalem – Cartoon [Chappatte/Twitter]