Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded to the US government’s plan to reopen the consulate general in Jerusalem on the evening of November 6, local time, saying that there was “no place.”
△ The Times of Israel reported on November 6, local time that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded that the US government planned to reopen the Consulate General in Jerusalem that day, saying that there was “no place.”
“My position has been conveyed to the United States, that is… There is no place in Jerusalem to accommodate a US consulate serving the Palestinians in Jerusalem.” Bennett said when answering questions at a press conference.
At the same press conference, Israeli Foreign Minister Yail Rapid “recommended” that the US Consulate in Jerusalem “if it opens in Ramallah, we have no opinion.” Ramallah is located in the West Bank of Palestine, where the main departments of the Palestinian government are located.
△On October 19, local time, Israeli police were on duty near the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Regarding Rapid’s “recommendation,” Nabil Abu Rudenai, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, rejected it and reminded the United States to “keep its promise”. Rudenai told a Reuters reporter: “We will only accept the establishment of the US consulate in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. That is what the US government has announced and promised to do.”
△ Screenshot of Reuters report
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has essentially played the role of the “U.S. Embassy in Palestine” for many years, providing consular services to American citizens and Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Embassy of Israel.
△U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem
The status of Jerusalem is the core issue between Palestine and Israel. Republican Donald Trump changed the long-term policy pursued by the U.S. government when he was president of the U.S. and officially announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017. The United States moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. In March 2019, the then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem had merged into the relocated embassy in Israel. The move by the United States triggered strong protests from Palestine and widespread opposition from the international community.
△On October 19, local time, near the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israeli police drove out Palestinians.
After Democrat Joseph Biden came to power in January this year, he said that the United States continues to support the “two-state solution” as a way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the Third Middle East War in 1967 and declared the entire Jerusalem as Israel’s “permanent and indivisible capital.” The “two-state solution”, which is generally supported by the international community, is based on the borders before the 1967 war. Palestine will establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and coexist peacefully with Israel.
△Related commentary articles published by the Associated Press on November 7, local time
The Associated Press said that how to deal with the issue of the US Consulate in Jerusalem has become another “test” for the relationship between the Biden administration and the current Israeli government.
The current US Secretary of State Anthony Brinken stated during his visit to Ramallah in May this year that “the United States will continue to promote the reopening of the Consulate General in Jerusalem”, but did not give a specific schedule. Deputy Secretary of State Brian McKean hinted at the Senate hearing that Israel’s resistance may hinder the reopening of the Consulate General. “My understanding is that if we want to open any diplomatic institution, we must obtain the approval of the host country’s government.” He said.Return to Sohu to see more
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