U.S. ends waivers of Jerusalem Embassy Act after terms fulfilled – Pompeo

No more waivers will be granted to the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act because its terms have been fulfilled and the process of relocating the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital have been fulfilled, the United States announced on Wednesday.

“I am pleased to report that I have provided my determination to Congress that the relevant elements of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 have been addressed. Accordingly, no further presidential waiver of the funding restriction under the act is necessary,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

Proud to report to Congress that we have achieved the goals of the #Jerusalem Embassy Act by opening not just @usembassyjlm offices in Jerusalem, but also an Ambassador’s residence in Jerusalem. No more waivers. Another great step for the U.S.-#Israel partnership!

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 8, 2019
He made his announcement just as Israel prepared to celebrate its 71st anniversary.

Both Pompeo and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman tweeted about the end of a what had almost become a ritual, in which twice a year the US president would waive the act, which mandated the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“Twenty-three years ago, Congress overwhelmingly voted in support of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. Successive administrations refused to move the embassy, and instead exercised presidential waivers to avoid the act’s restrictions,” Pompeo said in a statement by his office.

The US officially relocated its embassy to Jerusalem last year, but the process had not been completed. As a result, the act was still waived.

“Now, as we near the first anniversary of that momentous event,” such a waiver is no longer necessary, Pompeo said.

No more waivers! Having now opened a Chief of Mission Residence in Jerusalem, the Administration has fully achieved the mandate of the Jerusalem Embassy Act. Eternal thanks to @POTUS and @SecPompeo for their courage and leadership. pic.twitter.com/BaMUfqOQQH

— David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) May 8, 2019
“The Jerusalem Embassy Act called on the Department of State to open in Jerusalem not just the offices of the US diplomatic mission to Israel, but also a chief of mission residence for our Ambassador to Israel,” Pompeo said.

“In March 2019, in consultation with the Government of Israel, we established a chief of mission residence in Jerusalem. I have therefore determined that the US Embassy in Jerusalem, including the chief of mission residence, is officially open, consistent with the act,” he added.

“On December 6, 2017, the president boldly decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the Department of State to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem. We proudly continue to implement that decision today,” Pompeo said.

US President Donald Trump first announced US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017. At the time he clarified that his declaration was a principled one and did not refer to the question of whether Israel had sovereignty over the entire city, or just a portion of it.

The Palestinians hold that east Jerusalem, all areas of the city over the pre-1967 lines, are designed for the capital of its future state.

In 2017 Trump said: “We are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.”

The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which was approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, clearly stated that the US position on the matter was that Jerusalem was Israel’s undivided capital.

The act stated: “Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected; Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.”

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