The White House has officially delayed its plan to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a promise President Trump made during his presidential campaign.
According to ABC News, press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement on the “suspension of limitations under the Jerusalem Embassy Act.” The Jerusalem Embassy Act, which was was passed by Congress in 1995, requires the embassy be moved to Jerusalem, but allows the president to waive the requirement.
In his statement, Spicer wrote, “While President Donald J. Trump signed the waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act and delayed moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President's strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance.”
The statement continues, claiming, “President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interests. But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when.”
During his campaign, Trump told the audience at AIPAC, “We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.”
In January, Spicer said Trump was in the “beginning states” of discussing the move.
In May, Vice President Mike Pence said Trump was giving “serious consideration” moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
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