The Biden administration is pushing Israel to reopen the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. Ultimately, it is up to Israel to decide whether to accede to that request.
Israel should simply reject it out of hand.
For one, it undermines U.S. law to reopen the consulate. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 states, “In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict known as the Six Day War … Jerusalem has been a united city administered by Israel … Jerusalem should remain an undivided city … recognized as the capital of the State of Israel.” Having a consulate in the capital city of Israel would create the appearance that the city is divided when it actually is not.
Second, the embassy already provides consular services for the Palestinians. When the consulate was shuttered in 2019, almost a year after the embassy’s opening in Jerusalem, its operations were simply folded into the embassy.
Third, successive Palestinian leaders have repeatedly demonstrated that they are not yet ready to be serious partners for peace. Israel has made numerous offers for peace that would include the formation of a Palestinian state, only to be rejected every time with terrorism including intifadas. The 2000 Camp David negotiations and 2008 Olmert-government-led negotiations were particularly concessionary and generous. Both times, Palestinian leaders blew their opportunity.
The U.S. and Israel have reportedly established a joint working group to address the consulate issue. This is a waste of time. Israel needs to tell the Biden administration that it will not be reopening the consulate in Jerusalem nor will it be opening a consulate anywhere on Israeli territory. Period.
Jackson Richman is a journalist in Washington, D.C. Follow him @jacksonrichman.
