Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support, during his weekly cabinet meeting, for moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, but mentioned no specific time-frame. Netanyahu’s remarks came after the head of the Republicans Overseas Israel branch, Marc Zell, was quoted by the Israeli Ha’aretz newspaper that President Donald Trump was “proceeding cautiously because of concerns raised by Israeli officials.”
“I want to take the opportunity to make it unequivocally clear that our position has always been, and remains so now and at all times, that the U.S. embassy should be here, in Jerusalem, Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and it is right and proper that all of the foreign embassies, and not only the American embassy, move here. I believe that in time, most of them will indeed come to Jerusalem.”
Just until a few years ago, Costa Rica and El Salvador had their embassies located in Jerusalem, but have decided under international pressure to move their embassies to Tel Aviv. Trump’s team spoke often during the presidential campaign about moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel’s self-proclaimed capital and the holiest city to the Jewish people; but a week ago, White House press secretary Sean Spicer lowered expectations of an imminent announcement about the embassy’s relocation, stressing that only initial discussion were made on the matter.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials are advocating against the move, warning that the embassy’s relocation would kill off any prospects for peace. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem for the capital of their aspired state, under any final status agreement, a demand contrary to Israel’s position, which maintains Jerusalem as its undivided and eternal capital.