President Kaguta Museveni and first lady Janet Museveni receive Israeli PM Netanyahu and wife Sarah Netanyahu at State House Entebbe on 3 February, 2020. Photo: PPU/Fred Nangoli.
President Yoweri Museveni said ‘I don’t see why we wouldn’t’ after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked him to open Uganda’s embassy in Jerusalem.
Museveni explained during a joint press conference with PM Netanyahu at State House Entebbe on Monday that the sour relations between Israel and Palestine ‘would not affect Uganda’s plans.’
“The issue of the embassy, we’re studying it,” Museveni said.
The status of Jerusalem – home to sites holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians – is one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Local media sources report should Uganda move its embassy to Jerusalem, the country puts its diplomatic relations with the Palestinian community, which has many investments here, at risk.
After occupying the city’s eastern part in the 1967 War, Israel unilaterally annexed the territory and proclaimed it as its capital. The Palestinians, however, see the city as the capital of their future state.
President Donald Trump was first to announce America’s embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, a decision that angered Palestinians since it legitimizes Israeli occupation.
Moving on, Netanyahu and his wife laid a wreath at the memorial for Operation Entebbe, where his brother was killed 43 years ago.
He said he misses his brother and is proud of him.
Uganda Christian News understands that the leader of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is expected in the country in wake of the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit.
Prior to departing from Israel, Netanyahu was reported to be meeting with “regional leaders.”
He said he hoped to have “very good news for Israel at the end of the day.”
