Trump renews waiver to keep U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv

[txradioguy]

President Trump renewed a waiver Thursday that keeps the U.S. Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, rather than moving it to Jerusalem as he had promised during the presidential campaign.

Moving the embassy to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, would be highly controversial because the status of Jerusalem is disputed. Israel claims rights to Jerusalem dating back to biblical times, but Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state.

As a result, the United States and other countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, pending peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Congress passed a law in 1995 calling for the re-location of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but presidents can avoid doing that by signing a waiver twice a year to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv.

Trump still supports moving the embassy, but believes the move, which would anger Palestinians, should wait now that the possibility of peace between Israel and the Palestinians is at hand, a senior official said, according to CNN.

During his visit to the Middle East earlier in May, Trump declined to reaffirm support for relocating the embassy. The move would surely outrage Arab allies of the U.S., such as Saudi Arabia, which gave him a royal welcome and signed a massive arms purchase prior to Trump's visit to Israel.

David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, also favors moving the embassy to Jerusalem. Friedman said in a statement last year that he looked forward to serving in the post "from the U.S. Embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/06/01/trump-sign-waiver-keep-united-states-embassy-tel-aviv/102348484/

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: FOX NEWS

URL: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/01/trump-delays-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem.html


President Trump will not yet move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem -- at the least postponing an oft-repeated campaign pledge -- however, the White House said Thursday the delay was only in the interest of serving a possible peace deal and the move would happen eventually.

Trump signed the Jerusalem Recognition Act Waiver on Thursday morning, officially delaying the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv.

“No one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President's strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance,” the White House said in a statement. “President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America's national security interests. But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

A senior administration official told Fox News the White House was optimistic peace was possible in the long-running and seemingly unsolveable conflict, which has perplexed numerous administrations.

All parties in the region were notified the President would sign the waiver.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump delays move of US embassy to Jerusalem
Fox News, Jun 1, 2017

President Trump will not yet move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem -- at the least postponing an oft-repeated campaign pledge -- however, the White House said Thursday the delay was only in the interest of serving a possible peace deal and the move would happen eventually.

Trump signed the Jerusalem Recognition Act Waiver on Thursday morning, officially delaying the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv.

“No one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President's strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance,” the White House said in a statement. “President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America's national security interests. But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

A senior administration official told Fox News the White House was optimistic peace was possible in the long-running and seemingly unsolveable conflict, which has perplexed numerous administrations.

All parties in the region were notified the President would sign the waiver.



http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/01/trump-delays-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem.html

[roamer_1]

A senior administration official told Fox News the White House was optimistic peace was possible in the long-running and seemingly unsolveable conflict, which has perplexed numerous administrations.

Ignorance.

[libertybele]

There seems to be a whole lot of postponing on his campaign promises.   

[Oceander]

In other words, he's going to do exactly what every other president has done for the last 20 years and kick the can down the road.  He's also putting the lie to another campaign promise. 

[Night Hides Not]

There seems to be a whole lot of postponing on his campaign promises.   

The Big Kahuna will be this afternoon, i.e. Paris Climate accords.

[Right_in_Virginia]

President Trump will not yet move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem -- at the least postponing an oft-repeated campaign pledge -- however, the White House said Thursday the delay was only in the interest of serving a possible peace deal and the move would happen eventually.

In other words, when the Israelis and Palestinians make peace, the US will move the embassy to Jerusalem.

[Wingnut]

All campaign promises are a lie to get elected.  One should never be upset for feeling duped by an elected official.  Be a good boy scout and bend over.

[SirLinksALot]

Well, how much time does it take to prepare to move an Embassy anyway?

Have they even identified a location? a building?

Many people want things to happen AT ONCE in an age where everything can be flashed to us at an instance.

But things like this require long term-panning.

[txradioguy]

In other words, when the Israelis and Palestinians make peace, the US will move the embassy to Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Authority will never make peace.

[ABX]

Well, how much time does it take to prepare to move an Embassy anyway?

Have they even identified a location? a building?

Many people want things to happen AT ONCE in an age where everything can be flashed to us at an instance.

But things like this require long term-panning.

They had alread identified the location and it is already set up with required security- the current Consolate General office in Jerusalem.  lt s a large, highly secure compound that has been ready for the move for quite some time.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Palestinian Authority will never make peace.

Then we need to walk away.  Period.

[txradioguy]

Then we need to walk away.  Period.

Yes and no.  We need to walk away from the silly notion that there will be peace with the Palestinians.

They had their chance in 1948 for their own independent country and they rejected it and instead attacked Israel.

Their idea of "peace" is the total destruction of Israel.

How do we know that?  At Camp David...Israel gave Arafat everything he demanded...return to the '67 Borders...return of the Golan Heights...IIRC recognition of East Jerusalem as the Palestinian Capitol...and he still walked away from the deal.

This stupid "two sate solution"...will end up being the final solution for Israel if it ever goes through. 

[roamer_1]

Be a good boy scout and bend over.

BOHICA, BABY!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA

[SirLinksALot]

I think there has to be a few things that need to happen before we can OFFICIALLY move the embassy to Jerusalem.

FIRST,  the status of the City of Jerusalem MUST BE decided.

We have a diplomatic mission in West Jerusalem (moved from East Jerusalem in 2010) that is not under the auspices of the US Ambassador to Israel.

This mission reports back directly to the State Department. That's as far as we have gone.

We don’t officially recognize East Jerusalem as being part of Israel ( not yet ).

[Emjay]

Well, how much time does it take to prepare to move an Embassy anyway?

Have they even identified a location? a building?

Many people want things to happen AT ONCE in an age where everything can be flashed to us at an instance.

But things like this require long term-panning.

I don't think this would be a prudent move right now but maybe someday.

[Oceander]

So, another Trump campaign lie exposed. 

[txradioguy]

I don't think this would be a prudent move right now but maybe someday.

If not now when? The move has been approved for 22 years now...how much longer should we kick the can down the road?

[Silver Pines]

During his visit to the Middle East earlier in May, Trump declined to reaffirm support for relocating the embassy. The move would surely outrage Arab allies of the U.S., such as Saudi Arabia, which gave him a royal welcome and signed a massive arms purchase prior to Trump's visit to Israel.

So?  Who cares?  America first, right?  We can put our embassy anywhere we like. 

Another broken campaign promise, but not surprising at all.

[DiogenesLamp]

The Palestinian Authority will never make peace.

Here I agree with you.   Their power over their people depends upon them being in a state of confrontation with Israel.