Congress Passes Jerusalem Bills to Move U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

Sept. 28, 2002
By Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Congress last week passed proposals that would define Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, increase support for Israel, and impose restriction on aid to Lebanon and the Palestinians. These decisions are incorporated in the State Department's budget law, and require President Bush's authorization.

The resolutions which relate to Jerusalem would make the American Consulate in East Jerusalem (which handles matters relating to Palestinians in the territories, and is responsible for relations with the Palestinian Authority) subordinate to the American embassy in Tel Aviv. Up to now the Consulate has had independent status as the Americans' direct pipeline to the Palestinians.

The new law would effectively transfers responsibility for contacts with the Palestinians to the Tel Aviv embassy, which is in charge of handling relations with Israel. In addition, the law calls for all official American documents to cite Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and to write in passports issued to American citizens who were born in Jerusalem that they were born in Israel.

The U.S. has traditionally opposed such classification of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, claiming that the city's status is to be determined in future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet the Bush administration did not make a concerted effort to stop this new legislative initiative on the Hill.

In the past, the Secretary of State of the President has sent letters to key Congressmen, pleading with them not to approve similar proposals on the grounds of American national security interests. This time, however, the White House chose not to intervene, and Congress passed the proposed resolutions. Yet while signing the bill into law, President Bush still has the power to declare sections which deal with the Consulate in Jerusalem as having no more than declarative status.

The proposed State Department budget includes an addition of $300 million to the assistance that has regularly gone to Israel. The proposed budget also slashes assistance to Lebanon by $10 million and empowers the President to cut back on aid to the PA if national security interests warrant such reductions.

U.S. Congress calls on Bush to move U.S. embassy to Jerusalem
The U.S. Congress on Friday night called on the Bush administration to immediately begin shifting the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, acting
to strengthen Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its capital.

A $8.6 billion bill authorizing State Department programs for next year specified that no funds may be used for the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem unless it is under the supervision of the American ambassador.

The consulate deals primarily with the Palestinians and reports directly to the secretary of state.

Also, no funds could be used for the publication of official U.S. documents that lists Israel without naming Jerusalem as the capital.

The Bush administration, like its predecessors, refuses to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying it is an issue to be decided in negotiations.

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, said: "At this most dangerous time in our relations with the Arab world Congress displays a disturbing cavalier attitude, putting American interests in grave danger."

Zogby also said "it will be put us at risk and all because a few sought political advantage."

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