Malawi settles for Tel Aviv
Malawi is today expected to officially open its mission in Tel Aviv, Israel and not in the controversial city of Jerusalem as earlier communicated.
Information posted on the Malawi Government Facebook page yesterday indicated that the mission would open in Jerusalem in November.
But a diplomatic note dated April 17 2024 addressed to all diplomatic missions and international organisations in Israel shows that the opening ceremony will take place at 12.30pm at Amgar House, 4th Floor at 7 Rival Street.
Reads the communication: “The embassy of the Republic of Malawi in Tel Aviv presents its compliments to all diplomatic missions and international organisations resident in Israel and has the honour to invite the esteemed missions to the official opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Malawi by Honourable Nancy Tembo of the Republic of Malawi.”
The diplomatic note further indicates that Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz will be the guest of honour.
Former Lilongwe City Centre legislator David Bisnowatty is currently the charge de affairs for the Israeli mission and has been in Tel Aviv since last year, representing the country, but without offices.
The Malawi delegation to Israel includes Tembo and two other Cabinet ministers Agnes NyaLonje (Labour) and Moses Kunkuyu (Information and Digitisation).
Yesterday, the delegation visited some workers in farms to appreciate their working conditions and encourage them to work hard and respect the laws of the host country, according to Kunkuyu.
Apart from the opening of the mission, Kunkuyu said there will be a signing ceremony of the much-awaited memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the labour export deal.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Kenya-based Israeli Ambassador to Malawi Michael Lotem said the delegation will have an opportunity to discuss other deals with Israeli officials during this visit.
He said Israel strongly appreciates Malawi’s position on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and that the southern African nation has demonstrated true friendship.
In his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Lazarus Chakwera announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem , a move that attracted criticism from commentators and a protest from the Palestinian Government which deployed an envoy to Malawi to raise their concerns.
There is an unresolved conflict between Israel and Palestine over East Jerusalem. Of 89 countries with diplomatic missions in Israel, only the United States of America and Guatemala are based in Jerusalem where others operate consulates and the rest are in Tel Aviv.
