U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

            A new U.S. Embassy will open in a borrowed building in Jerusalem next week, and street signs reading “US Embassy” in Hebrew, Arabic, and English are being put up this week. History is being made before our eyes with Israelites happy about it and Palestinians angry about it.

            President Donald Trump did what numerous other U.S. presidents promised to do but did not. He recognized on December 6, 2017, that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and announced that the United States would be moving its capital to Jerusalem.

            However, President Trump balked at paying the price for a new embassy complex and made the decision to update a current US consular building to embassy standards. This building is actually too small for an embassy, but it will serve as one for the time being and until the regular embassy building is built.

            Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is busy preparing his city for the occasion. He says, “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people – and the world is beginning to recognize this fact.” 

            The Palestinians and the international community do not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, but claim East Jerusalem as occupied territory. However, the U.S. now officially recognizes Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Since Trump announced the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, other nations have also said that they would move their embassies to Jerusalem. The Guatemala Embassy is reportedly moving to Jerusalem on May 16.