President Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, and other members of the U.S. delegation arrived in Israel on Sunday where they will celebrate the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Trump administration officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel last year and the move of the embassy will be marked Monday by an opening ceremony that Ivanka, Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin will attend. Dozens of U.S. lawmakers will also be part of the American delegation, including Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.
Trump will be addressing those in attendance of the event via video message.
“President Trump promised to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and he did so. He promised to move the American Embassy to Israel and he is doing so. Of course we will all celebrate this day, a real celebration, tomorrow,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at his weekly Cabinet meeting.
I am honored to join the delegation representing @POTUS, his Admin & the American people at this momentous ceremony commemorating the opening of our new US Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. We will pray for the boundless potential of the US-Israel alliance & we will pray for peace. pic.twitter.com/ulYbJAfTcL
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) May 12, 2018
In a preview of the embassy opening, senior Trump administration officials said the embassy will have an initial staff of at least 50 people, which will include Ambassador David Friedman’s aides and U.S. consular officers who were already working at the pre-existing visa and passport site where the embassy will now be included, NBC News reported.
Many European nations that oppose the decision are expected to skip the celebratory events Sunday and Monday
Meanwhile, the Israeli military is doubling the number of troops stationed in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank in anticipation of Palestinians protesting the opening ceremony. Police are expected to handle protests in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
