President Donald Trump is likely to announce the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during a coming trip to Israel, a Republican lawmaker close to the issue said Thursday.
Trump is reportedly considering visiting Israel on May 22, right before the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem Day, which marks the reunification of Jerusalem. Florida congressman Ron DeSantis, who traveled to Israel in March to scope out possible relocation sites, said he did not believe the timing of Trump’s potential visit is an accident.
“We have the chance to see a very important announcement very soon,” said DeSantis, referring to the embassy move. “What better time would there be to announce the relocation of the embassy than when you’re over there as president, celebrating alongside our Israeli friends this very important 50th anniversary?”
“The announcement of that trip is a signal that it is more likely to happen than not,” he said. “We are assuming that that is going to happen.”
A six-month presidential waiver linked to a 1995 law mandating the relocation of the embassy expires in coming weeks. Trump pledged to move the embassy during his presidential campaign. He said in February he would “love” to see the embassy relocated.
“I’d love to see that happen, we’re looking at that very, very strongly, we’re looking at that with great care, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said at the time.
Vice President Mike Pence said in late March that the president was giving serious thought to the move.
The remarks from DeSantis came during the launch event for the Israel Victory Caucus, whose goal is to introduce a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy after “three decades of failure.”
“The caucus calls for … ending the emphasis on Israel making “painful concessions” and instead putting the onus on Palestinians – they must give up the goal of destroying Israel and recognize Israel as the Jewish state,” according to a release announcing the caucus launch.
Ohio congressman Bill Johnson will co-chair the caucus web with DeSantis.
