Israel Matzav

US law calls for undivided Jerusalem

It's not just Israeli law that says that Jerusalem's capital city should remain undivided. American law says so too.

Hat Tip: Dry Bones (go check out his cartoon on this issue!)

This is some of the text of the "Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995." Yes, the same one pursuant to which US Presidents and Secretaries of State have been certifying for years that 'national security' considerations prevent the United States from moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1)Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital.

(2)Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel.

(3)The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel's President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions.

(4)The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center of Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of other religious faiths.

(5)From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of all states were denied access to holy sites in the area controlled by Jordan.

(6)In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict known as the Six Day War.

(7)Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city administered by Israel,and persons of all religious faiths have been guaranteed full access to holy sites within the city.

(8)This year marks the 28th consecutive year that Jerusalem has been administered as a unified city in which the rights of all faiths have been respected and protected.

(9)In 1990, the Congress unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 106, which declares that the Congress "strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected".

(10)In 1992, the United States Senate and House of Representatives unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 113 of the One Hundred Second Congress to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, and reaffirming congressional sentiment that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city.

...

(13)In March of 1995, 93 members of the United States Senate signed a letter to Secretary of State Warren Christopher encouraging "planning to begin now" for relocation of the United States Embassy to the city of Jerusalem.

(14)In June of 1993, 257 members of the United States House of Representatives signed a letter to the Secretary of State Warren Christopher stating that the relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem "should take place no later than....1999".

(15)The United States maintains its embassy in the functioning capital of every country except in the case of our democratic friend and strategic ally, the State of Israel.

(16)The United States conducts official meetings and other business in the city of Jerusalem in de facto recognition of its status as the capital of Israel.

...

SEC. 3. TIMETABLE.

(a)Statement of the Policy of the United States.—

(1)Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected;

(2)Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and

(3)the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.

Unfortunately, both Presidents Clinton and Bush have ignored this law in the interest of promoting a 'Palestinian' state reichlet. They have been able to do so because the law has no teeth (Section 7(a) allows the President to suspend the requirement that the US move its embassy here every six months, and that is what has happened) and because successive Israeli governments have been more interested in establishing a 'Palestinian' reichlet than in protecting Israel's security.

Still, I would love to hear some well-placed Senator or Representative remind President Bush and Secretary of State Rice of the American commitment to an undivided Jerusalem. Any takers?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:26 PM