White House Confirms To Relocate US Embassy To Jerusalem
The White House has confirmed that Donald Trump’s team is in the “beginning stages” of a plan to move the US embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
“We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement.
Trump repeatedly vowed during the election campaign to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, despite warnings the move would violate international law and destroy the Middle East peace process.
According to a source speaking on condition of anonimity to an Israeli news outlet, the announcement on the US embassy moving from Tel Aviv would be made on Monday.
Palestinians widely view the embassy move as the end of the peace process.
Both Palestine and Israel view Jerusalem as is their capital, but most of the world considers its final status a matter for peace negotiations.
Any decision to break with the status quo is also likely to prompt protests from US allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. Washington relies on those countries for help in fighting the Islamic State militant group, which the new US president has said is a priority.
