Skirting own policy, White House puts ‘Jerusalem, Israel’ on website

WASHINGTON — The White House Monday put “Jerusalem, Israel,” on its website, breaking with decades of US policy to not recognize the city as part of the Jewish state.

A screen announcing imminent statements by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the Prime Minister’s Residence, and the livestream of their remarks, noted the location as “Jerusalem, Israel.”

No explanation was given for the dateline. The page was later taken down from the website, but was still available on YouTube.

US policy doesn’t hold that the city is part of Israel.

Rather, Democratic and Republican administrations have said Jerusalem’s status must be solved through US negotiation.

Another page listing video feeds available on the site showed a dateline “Tel Aviv, Israel” for a video of Trump’s remarks after his arrival earlier Monday at Ben Gurion airport outside Tel Aviv.

That page listed just “Jerusalem” for two other videos or remarks he made before meetings with Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

Screen capture from the White House website showing titles with Tel Aviv and Jerusalem datelines. (screen capture: The White House)

Trump’s campaign had pledged he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital if elected, but the president has since retreated from that promise and a vow he would move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

During his first day in Israel, Trump did not refer to Jerusalem as part of Israel. His Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earlier said Trump would visit “Tel Aviv, the home of Judaism,” even though the lion’s share of Trump’s trip will take place in Jerusalem.

People familiar with Trump’s trip said US officials might offer a subtle gesture to recognize Israel’s strong feelings about Jerusalem being its eternal capital.

The city is marking 50 years since its reunification in the 1967 Six Day War this week.