President Barack Obama issued a presidential determination today to suspend a 1995 law that requires the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a letter from Obama to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama says the 6 month extended suspension of the law “is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States.”
Jerusalem, as the capital of Israel, is the presumed spot for embassies. The United States has historically, and not just during the Obama administration, refrained from relocating its embassy due to disputes over the holy city. Most, if not all, embassies in Israel are in Tel Aviv and its surrounding neighborhoods. The U.S. does have, though, a consulate for the Palestinians in Jerusalem.
The current Israeli leadership has vowed not to split the city in any peace talks, calling Jerusalem the enduring capital of the Jewish people. However, Palestinians also contend that Jerusalem is their capital and seek division of the city. Therefore, relocating a U.S. embassy to Israel into Jerusalem would cause major political problems for the United States, which would potentially be viewed as biased toward Israel.
The statement:
Presidential Determination
No. 2011-6
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem
Embassy Act
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States, including
section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public
Law 104-45) (the “Act”), I hereby determine that it is
necessary, in order to protect the national security interests
of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6 months the
limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this
determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in
accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the
determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this
determination and report to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
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