US administration is about to open a “representative branch” of its consulate in East Jerusalem
Jerusalem24 – The Israeli daily newspaper, Israel Hayom, reported today, Thursday, that the US administration has made contact with the Palestinian leadership to establish a headquarters in East Jerusalem. To serve as a branch of the consulate that will be reopened on Agron Street, West of the city.
According to the newspaper, despite Israel’s opposition to reopening the consulate, which was closed during the era of Donald Trump, the Biden administration will not be satisfied with reopening the consulate; but will also communicate with the Palestinians to open a branch in East Jerusalem.
There was a consulate office in East Jerusalem before it was closed in 2010, and was moved to the Arnona neighborhood in the western part of the city, before it closed completely.
According to the newspaper, during its work in West Jerusalem and over the years the US Consulate was in constant contact with the Palestinian Authority and helped establish its institutions and ministries. Noting that the State Department was providing the Palestinians with data on settlements and construction in them, which was opposed by previous US administrations, with the exception of the Trump era.
This report comes at a time when the Israeli Walla news website, published a report yesterday that the American and Israeli sides will form a team to negotiate and resolve any differences on the issue of reopening the consulate.
According to a report by the Israeli Army Radio yesterday, Bennett told the cabinet ministers during a recent session that he was surprised by the great American pressure and Washington’s interest in reopening the consulate.