A PINE grove in south Jerusalem has remained untouched for decades. This is the site reserved for America’s embassy in Israel. But like every other country that has diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, America has its embassy in Tel Aviv rather than the holy city. Donald Trump may change that.
He was not the first American presidential candidate to promise to move the embassy to Jerusalem in line with the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which was passed by Congress in 1995. But every president since has signed a national-security waiver suspending the act, arguing that Jerusalem’s status will be determined only after a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Although Israel has considered Jerusalem to be its capital since December 1949, most countries cling to the United Nations resolution from 1947 that divided Palestine to create the Jewish state. It said Jerusalem should remain a corpus separatum, or separate entity belonging to no country.
Mr Trump’s representatives have, however, said he intends to move the embassy. Last week he named David Friedman as ambassador to Israel. A bankruptcy lawyer, Mr Friedman is an outspoken supporter...Continue reading
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