Jerusalem

With Jerusalem embassy in place, Trump administration ends waiver

The Trump administration ended the practice in effect for more than two decades of waiving a law requiring the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Wednesday that the waiver no longer was necessary. President Donald Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem last year on May 14, and in March,…

Official: Israel to grant Gaza Christians permits to visit Jerusalem for Easter

Israel has decided to approve hundreds of permits for Palestinian Christians living in the Gaza Strip to visit East Jerusalem and the West Bank for Easter, an Israeli official said on Friday, two days before the holiday.

“Following the recommendations of the security establishment, during this coming Easter, hundreds of Christians from the Gaza…

Brazil opens Israel trade mission in Jerusalem

Brazil opened a new trade mission to Israel in Jerusalem on Sunday, edging back from earlier signals it would follow the United States with a full embassy move to the contested city.

The announcement came during a visit by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, an outspoken admirer of President Donald Trump, who broke global consensus by recognizing…

Border cop lightly injured in attempted car-ramming at checkpoint near Jerusalem

A Border Police officer was lightly injured in an attempted car-ramming attack Thursday afternoon at the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem, authorities said Thursday.

Police said the driver came from the direction of Jerusalem and managed to flee the scene after hitting the border cop.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said the…

Romania says it will move Israel embassy to Jerusalem

Romania’s prime minister announced Sunday during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that the nation will move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem.

The Romanian government has finished “evaluating the opportunity” to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă said in a speech.

Hungary to open office with ‘diplomatic status’ in Jerusalem

Hungary will open a trade office in Jerusalem that will have official “diplomatic status,” the country’s prime minister announced Tuesday during a short visit to Israel.

“I just informed the prime minister that the Hungarian government decided that we will open up a trade representation here, which will have a diplomatic status, so we will appear…

Czech leaders endorse Israeli embassy move to Jerusalem

Czech leaders on Wednesday endorsed moving the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following a similar move by the US administration earlier this year.

In a joint statement, the Czech president, prime minister, parliament speaker and the foreign and defense ministers said the opening of a “Czech House” there in November would…

Paraguay to open Jerusalem embassy next week

Paraguay’s government said Thursday that President Horacio Cartes will open the country’s new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem next week, following similar steps by the United States and Guatemala.

Government spokesman Mariano Mercado said Cartes will leave his country en route to Israel on Saturday.

While Mercado said the opening would be on…

Guatemala set to open Jerusalem embassy, days after US

Guatemala was set to open its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, two days after the US moved its mission to the capital.

The 10 a.m. dedication of the Jerusalem embassy will be attended by the Central American country’s president, Jimmy Morales, and foreign minister, Sandra Jovel, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu…

New US policy toward Jerusalem will advance peace in the region

Jerusalem has been the epicenter of the Jewish faith for more than 3,000 years, and the holy city has been the capital of the modern state of Israel for 70 years. By recognizing Jerusalem’s status and moving the U.S. Embassy there, President Trump has acknowledged these simple facts.

The new American policy concerning Jerusalem constitutes equal…

Trump to deliver video address at Jerusalem embassy opening

WASHINGTON —  US President Donald Trump will deliver a video address for the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem next week, a senior administration official told reporters Friday morning.

Over the last several weeks, Trump had been toying with flying to Israel for the second time in his presidency to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony,…

Paraguay becomes third country to plan embassy move to Jerusalem

Paraguay is set to become the third country, after the US and Guatemala, to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel said Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon said Paraguay President Horacio Cartes will travel to Israel later this month to open the country’s new embassy in the capital.

Cartes’s trip was scheduled…

U.S. Embassy road signs go up in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. Embassy road signs went up in Jerusalem on Monday ahead of next week’s opening of the mission in accordance with President Donald Trump’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital.

Trump says he is making good on U.S. legislation and presidential pledges dating back decades. Other world powers have not done so,…

New US Embassy building in Jerusalem unveiled

While the new American Embassy in Jerusalem is expected to be inaugurated next week, the road to the diplomatic mission actually beginning operations is still a ways off.

The current move, then, is mostly symbolic, including a changing of a sign and the move of the ambassador and his secretary, and possibly a visit from US President Donald Trump,…

Guatemala starts moving its embassy to Jerusalem

Guatemala on Wednesday started to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, transferring furniture and other equipment into a yet-unfinished office in the capital’s Malha Technology Park.

Earlier this week, the Guatemalan flag was raised outside the building.

“I was moved to see the flag of Guatemala waving in Jerusalem in advance of the…

Trump says he ‘may go’ to next month’s Jerusalem embassy opening

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Friday he would possibly travel to Israel next month for the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem.

Standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a White House press conference, Trump responded to a question from the Christian Broadcasting Network over who would attend the ribbon-cutting…

Czech president announces 3-stage plan to move embassy to Jerusalem – eventually

The president of the Czech Republic on Wednesday announced the beginning of a process that will move the country’s diplomatic missions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though it remains unclear if and when Prague will actually open an embassy in the holy city.

President Miloš Zeman announced the three-staged move, which starts next month with…

US envoy says Jerusalem under Israel is ‘model for coexistence in the world’

Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty is a “model for coexistence” among the three major monotheistic religions, the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said Monday.

At a panel discussion in the capital, the envoy also said intelligence cooperation between the two countries has saved American lives. At the same time, he expressed concern over…