Sierra Leone becomes sixth country to pledge shocking Israel embassy in Jerusalem move

Sierra Leone has become the sixth country to pledge to open their embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, in a break with international consensus on the status of the city.

President Julius Maada Bio committed to the move in a statement following a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who appears to be making a push for more countries to move their diplomatic missions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel views Jerusalem as its undivided capital, breaking international law, while Palestinians want the east of the city as the capital of a future state.

"They discussed the warm relations between both countries that date back to 1961 when Sierra Leone gained independence," the Sierra Leone presidential statement read.

"As part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, His Excellency President Bio expressed his government’s readiness to establish an Embassy of Sierra Leone in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel."

Cohen welcomed the move and said an unnamed Pacific nation would also open an embassy in Jerusalem in September.

"I was pleased to hear from the president of Sierra Leone of his intentions to open an embassy in Jerusalem," Cohen said.

Ties between Israel and Sierra Leone were first established in 1963 but suspended in 1973 during Israel's war with Arab states. The two countries re-established ties in 1992.

African nations have traditionally been critical of Israel due to the oppression of Palestinians, although Israel has attempted to find new allies in the continent in recent years.

Cohen has pushed for more countries to recognise Israel or move their embassies to Jerusalem, particularly among Pacific and African countries, in recent months.

The vast majority of countries with a diplomatic presence in Israel maintain missions in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, viewing no country as having complete sovereignty over Jerusalem. 

Israel illegally annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 in a move not recognised by the global community.

Former US President Donald Trump sparked huge anger in the Arab world when he announced the US embassy in Israel would move to Jerusalem, with similar pledges by other allies of Israel.

Eighty-nine of the 94 embassies in Israel are situated in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, while only four are in Jerusalem - Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, and the US.