Israel has sent a stark warning to the United States over plans to reopen its Consulate in Jerusalem
Israel says the reopening of the Consulate is a “bad idea” and that it could “destabilise Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government”
The former Trump administration signalled strong support for Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital by moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv and shuttering the consulate.
That consulate has traditionally been a base for diplomatic outreach to Palestinians.
The move was among several performed by the Trump administration that incensed Palestinian leaders, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
US President Joe Biden has pledged to restore US ties with the Palestinians and back a two-state solution. In May, Secretary of State Antony Blinked announced that the US would reopen the consulate, which has been closed since 2019.
The consulate, located in occupied East Jerusalem, had long served as an autonomous office that oversaw diplomatic relations with the Palestinians.
“We think it’s a bad idea…We know that the [Biden] administration has a different way of looking at this, but since it is happening in Israel, we are sure they are listening to us very carefully.””
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told a news conference
Israel deems all of Jerusalem its undivided capital – a status not recognised internationally.
