Israel Matzav

State Department regards Israel and Jerusalem as separate entities

You can't make this stuff up. Despite Monday's Supreme Court ruling, the US State Department is still trying to perpetuate the myth that Jerusalem is not part of Israel (Hat Tip: Joe L).

UPDATE: The State Department has altered an official communication to erase the fact that it had referred to Israel and Jerusalem as separate entities.

The release now states: “Acting Under Secretary Kathleen Stephens Travels to Algiers, Doha, Amman, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.” In a previous iteration of the release, the State Department separated Jerusalem from Israel.

An official State Department communication has labeled Jerusalem and Israel as separate entities.

In an official press release yesterday, the State Department announced that “Acting Under Secretary Kathleen Stephens Travels to Algeria, Qatar, Jordan, Jerusalem, and Israel.”

Keeping up with its longstanding policy, the State Department refuses to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s official capital—despite a U.S. law stating otherwise. Obama faced criticism on the issue last year, when it was revealed that the White House had scrubbed all references to Jerusalem being part of the Jewish state from a collection of photos on its website.

Obama has also been lambasted by pro-Israel leaders and some on Capitol Hill for capitulating to pressure from the State Department, which has long opposed U.S. law on the matter.

The State Department's position on Jerusalem is becoming more detached from reality by the day.

Labels: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, US State Department

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:57 AM