White House confirms Biden will keep embassy in Jerusalem

[DonViejo]

Source: Roll Call


Senate support last week was overwhelming to keep embassy put

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted February 9, 2021 at 11:51am

The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Joe Biden intends to keep the U.S. embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, where it was relocated during the Trump administration. The issue of where to locate the embassy has been a fixture of negotiations over Israeli and Palestinian territory and authority for decades.

A White House spokesperson confirmed to CQ Roll Call the administration’s intentions, following up on a query from last Friday’s White House press briefing.

“The U.S. position is that our embassy will remain in Jerusalem, which we recognize as Israel’s capital,” the spokesperson said. “The ultimate status of Jerusalem is a final status issue which will need to be resolved by the parties in the context of direct negotiations.”

The Senate voted 97-3 last week during the budget vote-a-rama in favor of an amendment supportive of the location of the embassy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in response to questioning during his Jan. 19 confirmation hearing that the embassy would remain in Jerusalem, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had not been definitive on Friday.

Read more: https://www.rollcall.com/2021/02/09/white-house-confirms-biden-will-keep-embassy-in-jerusalem/

[RockRaven]

1. Can they at least repurpose the courtyard named after Kushner into an area where they keep

their garbage bins and dumpsters?

[Sophiegirl]

2. Wasn't the residence for the Tel Aviv ambassador

Sold to Sheldon Adelson before he died? I think it was for over $67M

[yaesu]

3. tRump just got his monument. nt

[Bleacher Creature]

4. He really didn't have much of a choice.

It shouldn't be there in the first place, but yo-yoing it back and forth depending on who is President seems untenable.

[still_one]

6. +++

[Aristus]

8. I was just going to say the same thing.

Joe Biden is eminently pragmatic.

[tanyev]

15. Especially after Trump sold off the ambassador's residence to Sheldon Adelson.

I wonder how many additional millions went into Trump bank accounts?

JERUSALEM -- The United States sold the ambassador’s residence in Israel for more than $67 million in July, according to an official Israeli record of the sale that shines new light on a transaction that has been shrouded in secrecy.

The State Department confirmed the sale in September but refused to identify the buyer or disclose the sale price of the sprawling beachfront compound in the upscale Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya. On Tuesday, it said the sale had been “open and transparent.

The Israeli business newspaper Globes has identified the buyer as the U.S. casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a strong supporter of both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A representative of Adelson said the billionaire had no comment.

The sale helped to cement Trump's controversial decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem in 2018 and to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. By selling the residence, it would make it harder for future presidents to reverse the decision to move the embassy. President-elect Joe Biden has criticized the decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem but says he will not reverse it.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/record-shows-us-sold-ambassadors-home-israel-67m-74945980

[FBaggins]

21. Not sure there was even a choice to make

Administrations of both parties (along with overwhelming congressional majorities) long ago decided that the embassy should be in Jerusalem. The only thing holding back the decision was the belief that terrorist groups would be enraged and it would spark attacks.

That turned out not to be the case and, of course, the embassy has already been moved. There doesn't appear to be a reason to consider moving it back. The US position (again, both parties) is that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

[hack89]

5. Makes sense - it is their capital. nt

[cab67]

11. This hasn't been universally acknowledged by the international community.

Moreover, a drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem isn't much longer than an hour.

[hack89]

12. Not their decision to make

the drive is irrelevant. Our embassy should be in the capital.

[LanternWaste]

16. Not all embassies are located in capitals nor is it a legal requirement.

Given the above, your sentiment "should be..." is irrelevant as well. France could put its US embassy is Des Moines, Iowa if it wanted to.

"Should be" is a convenient editorial, but lacks force of law.

[oldsoftie]

25. The US doesnt consider Des Moines as our capital, so that comparison is nonsense.

Israel considers Jerusalem its capital. And we passed a law in '95 to move our embassy to their capital. So there's your "force of law".

[hack89]

29. Never said it is a legal requirement

More of a recognition of the realities of the ME.

[cab67]

18. which may or may not be Jerusalem.

I still think the international community matters. Besides, whether East Jerusalem (where I've been, by the way) is part of Israel is very much an open question, no matter what the Israeli government says.

I brought up the length of the commute because the main reason embassies tend to be in capitals is for ease of access to government officials and offices. Moving the embassy from Tel Aviv didn't do a whole lot to improve that access - it was a cosmetic action.

[hack89]

31. It was an important symbolic action

That hopefully will focus the Palestinians on their situation. This could have only happened because Arab countries have come to the conclusion that strong ties with Israel to oppose Iran are more important than the Palestinians - especially given Hamas’ choice to align with Iran.

[cab67]

33. It had much more to do with politics within the US.

Although some prominent Jewish Americans (e.g. Sheldon Adelson) were pleased, it was a very popular action among evangelicals. I don't think Trump gave half a shit about the Palestinian people. He wanted to keep the evangelicals happy.

[hack89]

34. I am not sure anyone really gives a shit about the Palestinians

Harsh as it might be.

[BainsBane]

19. Palestinians don't see it that way

and moving the embassy to Jerusalem was seen as a fragrant disrespect of Palestinians and their cause. It was a pro-RW Likut move.

[oldsoftie]

22. Its not really up to them.

[BainsBane]

24. Obviously it's not

nothing is up to them. They are treated like dirt. That doesn't make it right. It's easy to shit all over people who have nothing. It's what empires do, and evidently you're all for it. I myself prefer to see the US operating with a moral compass.

[oldsoftie]

26. They've had many opportunities to remedy their situation. They choose not to.

Pres Clinton had a good deal for them & they walked from it. Their continued obstinance is why most of the Arab world has moved on from them & made peace with Israel. Continuing to not recognize Israel doesnt help either. Continuing to harbor attackers is also another problem. Its also telling that none of the neighboring countries ever offered any of THEIR land to help them out. Especially Jordan, which was "created" at the same time as Israel.

[BainsBane]

27. Yeah, why not take a deal with no water rights

when you live in the middle of a dessert. Did you ever see a map of that deal? There was no contiguous border. The whole thing was carved out to give all the water to Israel. It was only good if you were Israel.

[hack89]

28. The Palestinians have made themselves irrelevant

Their Arab brethren aren’t making a fuss about this - tells you how much the ME has been realigned and where the Palestinians ended up. Hamas backing Iran was a step to far for many Arab countries.

[BainsBane]

30. Human beings are not irrelevant

Though clearly you think so. At least you're consistent.

[hack89]

32. Never said they were

Doesn’t mean squandering whatever moral capital they had doesn’t have unfortunate consequences. When you choose a terrorist organization like Hamas to represent you then why would you expect good to come from it?

[reader1]

7. Dare not move it.

Of course, every one must pay respect to the golden calf and agreed and not offended the Israeli in any way.

[SpankMe]

9. There's only so much Trump stench that Biden can reverse

But, they should make the embassy an eyesore. Turn it into a non-descript, de-emphasized concrete edifice. Maybe ugly, even. The façade should cry out "yeah, I'm here. I have to be. But I don't want to be. So, I ain't prettying myself up for anybody".

[machoneman]

10. Bad move Joe! A really bad move as it rewards assholes like Kushner and Trump.

We, the USA, are the only major power, NATO member, EU supporter and more to have an embassy in a technologically backward town w/o an airport, major media support and more compared to Tel Aviv.

Dumb and dumber, I say!

[Mickju]

13. I agree.

[oldsoftie]

23. No it doesnt. It has been the law since '95. It should've been done years ago.

The law was never rescinded.

[McKim]

14. Really Sad about This!

I am disappointed in Biden for this. What does it mean for the future? Will he pressure Israel to give vaccines to the people in Gaza? I hope so!!!!! Most Israelis are vaccinated and the people in Gaza?

[Politicub]

17. This is low on my list of priorities. The politics in Israel are toxic,

and the treatment of the Palestinians is indecent. Moving the embassy is symbolic at this point, and will not solve the underlying issues.

And, who knows? Perhaps the embassy will be moved to the Trump Heights settlement should the GOP ever regain power.

[BainsBane]

20. I consider this a mistake

and it makes it more difficult for the US to pretend to be a neutral broker in the Middle East.

[MichMan]

35. 97-3 in the Senate

Doesn't seem like there was much opposition