US embassy will move to Jerusalem in May, State Department says
Following through on Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The United States aims to open a Jerusalem embassy in May, the State Department said, cementing details of one of Donald Trump’s most controversial foreign policy decisions.
The planned opening is intended to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence and would come earlier than administration officials had previously suggested, with Vice President Mike Pence saying in January the move would likely occur in 2019. The embassy will be housed in a building that currently contains a consular office, the State Department said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the move, saying in a statement that it would “turn Israel's 70th Independence Day into an even greater national celebration”.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your leadership and friendship,” Mr Netanyahu said.
A search is underway for a site that could host a permanent Embassy, the State Department said, noting in a press release that constructing a new building would be a “longer-term undertaking”. The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of influential Republican donor Sheldon Adelson helping to pay for at least part of the Jerusalem embassy's construction, according to unnamed officials who spoke with the Associated Press
The decision carried brought geopolitical implications, drawing angry protests from Palestinian leaders who said America had undercut the peace process and forfeited its role as a neutral mediator. The United Nations overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning the move.
Administration officials have continued to spar with Palestinian leadership, with Mr Trump threatening to withhold aid.
On the same day as the Embassy announcement, the President said that “we’re actually making great headway” on forging peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, saying taking Jerusalem “off the table” was the “right thing to do” and praising the work of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is tasked with overseeing negotiations
“He’s an extraordinary dealmaker, and if he does that that will be an incredible accomplishment and a very important thing for our country”, Mr Trump said of Mr Kushner.
More follows...
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments