U.S. Embassy move to come in May, official says

WASHINGTON — Accelerating controversial plans, the Trump administration will open a small U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s declaration of independence, a State Department official said Friday.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson approved preliminary security plans for a limited contingent, including the ambassador, David Friedman, and a skeleton staff, to move into a section of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, said Steven Goldstein, the under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs.

“The goal is to open a small footprint in May, and, over time, open a more full embassy by the end Goldstein said.

The May 14 date, the date Israel originally declared independence, accelerates the schedule for transferring the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, where it always existed along with the rest of the world’s diplomatic missions, to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem.

President Donald Trump in December announced he was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordering the embassy transfer, reversing decades of U.S. and international policy and enraging the Arab world and many allies.

While Israel claims Jerusalem as its “eternal and of 2019,” undivided” capital, Palestinians also claim the eastern part of the city as their capital in a future independent state.

The status of Jerusalem was to be decided in final peace talks. The Palestinians now contend that the U.S., once the broker of such talks, has disqualified itself as a mediator by taking Israel’s side.

The Trump administration also is considering an offer from Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson to pay for at least part of a new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

Lawyers at the State Department are looking into the legality of accepting private donations to cover some or all of the embassy costs, the officials said.

In one scenario, the administration would solicit contributions not only from Adelson but from other donors in the evangelical Christian and American Jewish communities, too. One official said Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate and staunch Israel supporter, had offered to pay the difference between the total cost and what the administration is able to raise.

Special correspondent Tarnopolsky reported Jerusalem. Associated contributed.

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