The legislation is largely seen as a move aimed at putting more barriers to opening a US consulate, especially after former President Donald Trump’s closure of the Palestinian Authority mission in 2019.
When US President Joe Biden took office, he promised to restore the mission, but this requires Israeli consent as the building is located in the country’s sovereign territory in West Jerusalem. Successive Israeli governments have rejected the proposal and the recent decision is likely to make its implementation even more difficult.
“We oppose this legislation, we have made it clear to you that we oppose the bill, and we continue to believe that opening an American consulate in Jerusalem would be an important way for our country to engage and provide support to the Palestinian people,” Miller said. saying.
He added that the United States continues to cooperate with “the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority” through the Office of Palestinian Affairs at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, as well as through the Office of Palestinian Affairs in Washington. The office was created earlier during Biden’s term to strengthen ties with the Palestinian Arabs.
Previously, Cursor wrote that Knesset members approved the amendment to the Basic Law “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel” on the second and third reading. The initiators of this amendment were deputies Zeev Elkin and Dan Illuz.
