Russia to build embassy branch in Jerusalem, following settlement deal

Russia will build its embassy’s branch office in Jerusalem as part of a deal with the city, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday. 

The agreement concerned a disputed land plot in west Jerusalem, which the city agreed would officially belong to Russia. 

"On May 18, the Russian Federation and the municipality of Jerusalem, with the assistance of the Russian Embassy and the Foreign Ministry of Israel, signed a settlement agreement and its protocol on clarifying the boundaries and area of the Russian land plot in West Jerusalem," the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement said. 

"We proceed from the assumption that the said 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. We believe that this step fully serves the interests of further strengthening friendly multifaceted relations between Russia and Israel,as well as goes in line with our country's unchanging course towards a fair Middle East settlement," the statement underlined. 

Israel's Foreign Ministry in a separate statement said that the agreement was reached after several rounds of talks aimed "at promoting an agreed solution between the municipality and the Russian Federation regarding the part in question."

"Under the guidance of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in recent months a joint professional team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jerusalem Municipality conducted several rounds of talks regarding a real estate plot located at the corner of King George and Ma'lot streets in Jerusalem," the statement said. 

According to the agreement, an extension of the consular wing of the Russian Embassy in Israel will be built on the plot, which will also include a conference hall and diplomatic residences.

"The agreement is in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase the number of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel," the statement added. 

Earlier on Friday, Israel Hayom reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry committed to setting up the embassy branch office in the Maalot Parking lot compound in the center of Jerusalem. It is expected to open within five years, although could be postponed to 10. 

According to the document seen by Israel Hayom, the Jerusalem City Hall and the capital’s Mayor Moshe Lion agreed to give Russia ownership status on some 300 feet of land that would serve as a passageway to the new office. The deal would also see the city pledging to avoid expropriation of the area for the light rail project, which would mean rerouting the line.

Jerusalem also wouldn’t demand outstanding taxes payment from the diplomatic mission, the report said. The new office will provide consular services and will include diplomatic residences, meaning that its status would be higher than a consulate. 

The report revealed that the signing ceremony at the city hall was held on Jerusalem Day in May following six months of complex negotiations. Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Mayor Lion were present at the event along with Russia’s ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov and other diplomatic officials. 

Earlier in May, Cohen announced that Hungary would become the first European Union state to move its embassy to Jerusalem, effectively recognizing the holy city as Israel's capital.