El Salvador's foreign ministry announced on Friday that it would be following Costa Rica’s lead and moving its embassy from Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, to Tel Aviv. This, despite El Salvadorian statements to the contrary earlier in the month. "Considering the current situation in the Middle East, El Salvador has decided to move its diplomatic representation in the State of Israel… With the decision announced today, El Salvador seeks to contribute through diplomatic means to peace between all the parties involved," El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said. He added that it would continue to “recognize and guarantee the right of Israel to exist and live in peace within internationally-recognized borders." El Salvador’s President Tony Saca is descended from Christian Arabs who emigrated from what was then Palestine before the founding of the State of Israel. As recently as August 22nd, following Costa Rica’s decision to improve ties with Arab states by moving its embassy, El Salvador claimed it had no intention of relocating its embassy. El Salvador said it had made the decision to move the embassy in consultation with the Israeli government, led by the former Jerusalem mayor, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
