The American embassy in Israel, currently in Tel Aviv, should move to Jerusalem, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney said in an interview Sunday.
“A nation has the capacity to choose its own capital city, and Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Romney told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in an interview set to air Monday. “I think it’s long been the policy to ultimately have our embassy in the nation’s capital of Jerusalem.”
The timing of the move, Romney said, would be made in consultation with Israel’s government.
“I would follow the same policy we have had in the past, our embassy would be in the capital, and the timing of that is something I would want to work out with the government,” Romney said.
No country’s embassy to Israel is currently situated in Jerusalem. Nearly every nation with a diplomatic mission to Israel has its embassy in or near Tel Aviv. Some countries have embassies in Mevaseret Zion, a suburb of Jerusalem.
United States policy has long been intentionally vague on the status of Jerusalem. A U.S. law passed in 1995 designates Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and stipulates the American embassy should move to the city from Tel Aviv. The past three presidents, however, have signed waivers suspending the law, citing security and diplomatic concerns.
Israelis consider Jerusalem the capital of their country, but Palestinians also claim rights to the city as the capital of a future independent state. The status of the city is designated for final negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama waded into the issue of Jerusalem’s status, pledging before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”
He later walked back the comment on CNN, telling Fareed Zakaria the remark was a result of “poor phrasing.”
“The point we were simply making was, is that we don’t want barbed wire running through Jerusalem, similar to the way it was prior to the ’67 war, that it is possible for us to create a Jerusalem that is cohesive and coherent,” Obama said. “I was not trying to predetermine what are essentially final status issues.”
On Thursday, the subject of Israel’s capital arose at the White House press briefing.
“What city does this administration consider to be the capital of Israel — Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?” a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
“I haven’t had that question in a while. Our position has not changed,” Carney answered. Pressed further for the White House’s position on Israel, Carney responded “you know our position” before moving on to other questions.
In a transcript of the briefing emailed later Thursday afternoon, the White House included a paragraph explaining their position.
“The status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement read. “We continue to work with the parties to resolve this issue and others in a way that is just and fair, and respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.”
(Source: CNN)
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8 Responses
this article is foolish since when is any executive puppet changing long standing american state department national interest.
especially romney who is a slickball positioning opportunist. im not saying that hashem is not a kol yachol that all of a sudden iron principle and vision may come from butter.
but please this is not sarah palin. this is just another guy in the car racing arcade for president.
doesnt anyone remember the last 3 presidential campaigns. bush 1 bush 2 or mccain
who is the manipulating and who is the manipulated in israeli polittical policy and development
1. Don’t trip as you run to the polling place to cast that vote for Obama & even more socialism.
100 days till Election Day!!
My son was born in Shareei Tzedek Hospital (after 1995) and his AMERICAN passport and birth certificate say just plain Israel- no Jerusalem.
Baron : Shanda! What about Obama’s behavior? :
” In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama waded into the issue of Jerusalem’s status, pledging before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”
He later walked back the comment on CNN, telling Fareed Zakaria the remark was a result of “poor phrasing.” … “
I guess #1 has a problem remembering the campaigns on the left. Tell me, why can’t obama actually say j’lem is the capitol of Israel?? I have my reasons!
I wouldn’t get too excited about a politician promising to move their embassy to Yerushalayim. In 1979, the soon to be Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark promised this move during the election campaign. Once he took office he dropped this because “it would hurt Canada’s status as a peace broker in the Middle East.” Even now, more than 30 years later, Canadian Prime Minister Harper, the most consistently pro-Israel leader in the world, has not moved the embassy. We don’t need the goyim to legitimize our capital.
Every candidate from both parties for the past 20 or so years has made the same promise. So why is the embassy stil in Tel Aviv?
“The status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement read. “We continue to work with the parties to resolve this issue and others in a way that is just and fair, and respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.”
This is standard American policy and no president has changed it, no matter how pro-israel they were.
As for Romney, he is a swing even for a politician. Witness Obamacare which he has instituted as governor of Massachusetts and now opposes it.
I am surprised how the Republicans could have nominated such a slick.