PM: Keeping US embassy in Tel Aviv ‘drives peace away’

The Prime Minister Office says Trump’s decision to postpone moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem diminishes chances for peace between Israelis and Palestinians because it keeps false narrative alive.

“Israel’s consistent position is that the American embassy, like the embassies of all countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, should be in Jerusalem, our eternal capital,” the statement from Netanyahu’s office says.

“Maintaining embassies outside the capital drives peace further away by helping keep alive the Palestinian fantasy that the Jewish people and the Jewish state have no connection to Jerusalem.

Though Israel is disappointed that the embassy will not move at this time, we appreciate today’s expression of President Trump’s friendship to Israel and his commitment to moving the embassy in the future,” it says.

— Raphael Ahren