Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital and Decision to Move U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem is a “Bold and Welcome Move”

The United States has just officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begun plans to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.

This is a bold and welcomed move by President Trump – a move that recognizes the facts as they are – that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish state of Israel.

By officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States sends a powerful message to the world – the U.S. remains committed to pursuing and achieving peace in the Middle East. Further, the decision to move our embassy to Jerusalem not only reflects the correct course of action, but also complies with both U.S. and international law.

The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House of Representatives (374-37) and the Senate (93-5) on October 24, 1995. It became law on November 8, 1995 (President Clinton did not sign or veto it).

The Act was designed to state U.S. policy and authorize and incentivize the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by May 31, 1999. It also recognized that “Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel” and adopted as the policy of the United States that “Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected” and that “Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel.”

However, Section 7 of the Act also gave the President the authority to waive the relocation of the U.S. embassy for six-months. President Clinton issued the first waiver, and this waiver has been consistently renewed by every U.S. President since that time, and no President has formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – until today.

Now, that has finally changed. It will take time to build and move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and thus the President is renewing the waiver to give officials time to practically relocate. But the first critical step was taken today.

Jerusalem has been and always will be Israel’s capital. It’s why our ACLJ office in Israel is located in Jerusalem.

Now the real work begins. Hamas terrorists have already called for “days of rage” urging its jihadist operatives to “respond . . . by all means available.” We face the U.N.’s $65 million anti-Israel lawfare slush fund in international courts in our defense of Israel. We’re preparing three critical briefs to the International Criminal Court to defend Israel against warrantless legal attacks.

We’ve mobilized our office in Jerusalem – Israel’s capital. We’re meeting with key government leaders and developing a comprehensive way forward for peace and the sovereignty and security of Israel.