The First Ten Years / Walter Eytan

The move of the Foreign Ministry to Jerusalem was received with enthusiasm by the Israeli public, which considered it long overdue, but by other governments and by the diplomatic corps with consternation bordering on anger. The Ministry had informed the diplomatic corps of the date of the move on July 10. Over a year before, the Government had officialy announced its decision to transfer the Ministry to Jerusalem. When heads of missions had from time to time raised the matter, they had been informed plainly that the decision stood and that it would be carried into effect as soon as arrangements were ready for accommodating the Ministry and its staff of three hundred in Jerusalem. The fact that the buildings were going up and nearing completion was not a secret. They were plain for all to see, and the press had been reporting on their progress. The diplomatic corps could not fairly claim that it had been taken by surprise, though formal notice of the date was not given until late - for security reasons, and to be spared last-minute protests which could not in any case have availed.

The Sense of outrage with which other governments reacted took the Ministry by surprise. It had been thought that, when the first excitement died down, other governments would come to accept a situation they had long known must come about, particularly as they had only themselves to blame if five years of talk in the General Assembly had failed to produce an agreed solution. As for the practical difficulties, the Government was prepared to do all in its power to help the diplomatic missions find office and living quarters in Jerusalem.

Other governments, however, were not amused. Led by the United States and Great Britain, both of which themselves had voted against the Genheral Assembly's last resolution on the internationalization of Jerusalem, they declared a boycott of the Foreign Ministry.

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