President Donald Trump at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, May 22, 2017. (Israel Bardugo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As a candidate, Trump promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem, which was required by an act of Congress in 1995 but which successive administrations have delayed with a series of six-month waivers, citing national security concerns. The latest waiver, signed by Trump\u2019s predecessor, Barack Obama, expired on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s signing of the waiver was first reported Thursday morning by the New York Times, though there had been much speculation in political circles and in the media that he would do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile President Donald J. Trump signed the waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act and delayed moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President\u2019s strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance,\u201d the White House said in a statement announcing the signing of the waiver. \u201cPresident Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America\u2019s national security interests. But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump did not discuss the waiver publicly during his visit to Jerusalem late last month. He was, however, the first sitting president to visit the Western Wall. He has stated that he would like to broker the \u201cultimate deal,\u201d a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians with the approval of the rest of the Arab world. He reportedly was convinced on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia and to the Palestinian Authority that moving the embassy at this time would imperil such a deal.<\/p>\n
The United States, like most countries throughout the world, does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital. Israel calls all of Jerusalem its \u201cundivided capital,\u201d while the Palestinians consider eastern Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian state.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement issued by his office said that Israelis \u201cdisappointed\u201d that the embassy will not move at this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael\u2019s consistent position is that the American embassy, like the embassies of all countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, should be in Jerusalem, our eternal capital,\u201d the statement issued by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office said. \u201cMaintaining embassies outside the capital drives peace further away by helping keep alive the Palestinian fantasy that the Jewish people and the Jewish state have no connection to Jerusalem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThough Israel is disappointed that the embassy will not move at this time, we appreciate today\u2019s expression of President Trump\u2019s friendship to Israel and his commitment to moving the embassy in the future,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
J Street in a statement, welcomed Trump\u2019s decision to sign the waiver, calling it \u201cin keeping with 20 years of bipartisan policy\u201d since the passage of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act.<\/p>\n
\u201cJ Street believes that Jerusalem is absolutely central to the history, culture and identity of the Jewish people. We look forward to it, one day, being recognized by the entire world as Israel\u2019s capital, as part of a negotiated two-state solution,\u201d the statement also said.<\/p>\n
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement on President Trump\u2019s decision to sign the waiver: \u201cI regret President Trump\u2019s decision to sign the waiver but am certain that he will keep his word and bring the US embassy to its rightful place \u2013 Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. I will continue to provide assistance to the US administration and do all I can to ensure that the relocation happens as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Lee Zeldin, R- New York, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chairman of the House Republican Israel Caucus, said in a statement: \u201cJerusalem is absolutely where our embassy belongs. Jerusalem is the unquestionable capital of Israel and should be fully recognized as such. In addition to all of the most sacred religious sites, Jerusalem is also the location of the Israeli Knesset and offices and residences of the Israeli Prime Minister and President. I strongly urge the President to reconsider this most recent announcement. It was a credit to the President\u2019s campaign last year that he knew and was outspoken for moving the U.S. embassy as the correct path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, who is Jewish and close to pro\u2013Israel groups, also noted his disappointment, but with a barbed challenge to political rivals who criticized President Barack Obama for signing the the waiver while in office.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who believes that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, I am deeply disappointed in President Trump\u2019s decision,\u201d Schumer said in a statement. \u201cWill those who criticized President Obama for not moving the Embassy make their voices just as loud and just as strong when it comes to President Trump\u2019s failure to move the Embassy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Christians United for Israel said in a statement that the organization is \u201cdisappointed\u201d that Trump signed the waiver but said that its members \u201cremain hopeful that he will fulfill his campaign pledge and move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The President knows that Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of Israel and we strongly believe that the location of our embassy should reflect that reality. We look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration to strengthen the US-Israel alliance and defeat the radical Islamic terrorists that threaten both our nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
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