(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Illeana Ros-Lehtinen: “I can think of no better place than the City of David to express that the United States knows what the Jewish people have known for 3,000 years, namely, that Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel, a reality reinforced when the United States relocated its Embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year – and I call upon more countries to do the same.”

Congresswoman Illeana Ros-Lehtinen made a passionate speech about the significance of the *archeological discoveries at the City of David, *site of ancient Jerusalem, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives last week. Ros-Lehtinen reaffirmed the Jewish people’s undeniable connection to the holy city as a matter of historical fact and called upon her colleagues to ensure that Jerusalem remains a bipartisan* issue. She also called on other countries to follow the United States lead and move their embassy’s to Jerusalem.

“I can think of no better place than the City of David to express that the United States knows what the Jewish people have known for 3,000 years, namely, that Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel, a reality reinforced when the United States relocated its Embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year – and I call upon more countries to do the same.” Illeana Ros-Lehtinen told the American House of Representatives.

Ros-Lehtinen added: “This historic bond is most evidenced by the incredible discoveries unearthed in archeological excavations throughout the City of David affirming the millennia-old connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem, not as a matter of faith, but as a matter of historical fact – despite UNESCO’s ongoing, shameful efforts to declare otherwise.”

Representative Ros-Lehtinen concluded: “During the nearly three decades I have had the honor of serving in Congress, support for Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State of Israel, has been bi-partisan. Today, I call upon my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, Republicans & Democrats alike, to ensure that never changes; to ensure that the historic bond between the Jewish people and Jerusalem remains undeniable.”

Ze’ev Orenstein, Director of International Affairs – City of David Foundation applauded the speech: “The City of David Foundation would like to personally and publicly thank Rep. Ros-Lehtinen for her decades of commitment to the Jewish State and unwavering support for the City of David and Jerusalem. Like the City of David; her words on the house floor were an inspiration to millions of people of faith worldwide.”

The City of David is Israel’s largest active archeological site, situated upon the ancient city of Jerusalem, adjacent to the Western Wall. It is the place recorded in the Bible upon which King David established Jerusalem as the united capital of Israel 3,000 years ago, and which remained the seat of the Davidic dynasty for centuries thereafter. The City of David is an Israeli National Heritage Site with over six hundred thousand visitors annually where some of the most compelling personalities and seminal events of the Biblical period unfolded; rich with significance to Jews and Christians alik, deeply influencing the development of western civilization; and continuing to serve as an inspiration in the lives of millions.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)