United States Consulate For Palestinians Merges With Relocated Embassy In Jerusalem

The Unites States consulate in Jerusalem that historically attended to Palestinian affairs officially merged with the embassy that was relocated to the holy city last May, in a move Ramallah denounced as collective “punishment” and claimed further disqualifies Washington from playing the role of “honest broker” in the peace process with Israel. According to a State Department release, there will be “complete continuity of U.S. diplomatic activity and consular services” and the embassy will remain “engage[d] in a wide range of reporting, outreach, and programming in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as with Palestinians in Jerusalem, through a U.S. Embassy Palestinian Affairs Unit.” The Palestinian Authority nevertheless responded with outrage to the perceived downgrading of ties, viewing the decision as proof that the White House’s soon-to-be-released peace plan will not recognize its sovereignty over any areas of Jerusalem. By contrast, the American statement emphasized the merger “does not signal a change of U.S. policy on Jerusalem, the West Bank, or the Gaza Strip.”