The U.S. Embassy in Israel will relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2019, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced on Monday.
The announcement comes barely two months after U.S. President Donald Trump formally recognized the city as the capital of Israel.
Pence made the remark during a visit to Jerusalem as part of his visit to the Middle East.
He said the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem was made in the best interests of the U.S., saying it was important for peace in the region.
“The Trump administration will advance our plan to open our Embassy in Jerusalem and the Embassy will open before the end of next year. President Trump made his decision ‘in the best interests of the U.S. but he also made it clear we believe this decision is in the best interests of peace,” Pence tweeted after the announcement.
The Trump admin will advance our plan to open our Embassy in Jerusalem & the Embassy will open before the end of next year. @POTUS made his decision “in the best interests of the U.S” but he also made it clear we believe this decision is in the best interests of peace #VPinIsrael pic.twitter.com/YlyuqjYt2v
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) January 22, 2018
President Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in early December, prompting protests in the West Bank and around the world.
The move received wide backlash from The Arab League, which termed it “dangerous and unacceptable,” and a “flagrant attack on a political solution” to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also stated that Berlin “does not support” Trump’s decision, while the European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the body would continue to recognize the “international consensus” on Jerusalem.
