WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced his country will relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, just as the Trump Administration intends to do.
“I commend Guatemala and President Morales for recognizing that Israel has the right to choose its own capital. Israel is an island of democratic, free-market values in the Middle East, and one of our strongest allies. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and I’m glad Guatemala is joining us in recognizing that fact.”
In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy and Relocation Act, which recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and provided for the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since then, American presidents have routinely waived this requirement and delayed the relocation of the U.S. embassy, despite their campaign promises. On December 6, 2017, President Trump announced he was “directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” stating, “it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
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