US ‘actively considering’ Jerusalem embassy move
PRESIDENT TRUMP is “actively considering when and how” to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to his vice president Mike Pence.
Echoing a statement by a White House official earlier this year that the matter is “a question of when, not if”, Mr Pence reiterated one of Mr Trump’s key campaign promises regarding the Middle East.
Mr Trump repeatedly expressed support for the move as he canvassed voters, but did not renew his call when he visited the Israeli capital earlier this year.
Although Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, other countries who have diplomatic relationships with it have their embassies in Tel Aviv.
In 1995, Congress passed a law making it US policy to move the embassy to Jerusalem. However, it contained a clause which allowed each president to issue and renew a sixmonth waiver on carrying out the move. On June 1
Vice president Mike Pence Mr Trump signed a waiver, but it is due to be renewed again.
Mr Pence made his remarks in a keynote address at an event in New York commemorating the 70th anniversary of the UN vote for partition of Palestine, which led to the creation of the state of Israel.
Speaking to a room full of UN ambassadors, diplomats and Jewish leaders, he said: “While for the past twenty years, Congress and successive administrations have expressed a willingness to move our embassy, as we speak President Donald Trump is actively considering when and how to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.” Due to visit Israel next month, Mr Pence said he planned to address the Knesset to “bring a message of resolve and commitment to draw the United States and Israel even closer together, and to stand together in defence of all that we hold dear”.
He said that America’s support for Israel “is at a record level” and pledged that “the days of Israelbashing at the United Nations are over”.