by Ariel Kahana
Efforts by Republicans to introduce legislation to prevent the consulate's reopening failed to garner Democratic support in Congress last week.
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| A view of the Jerusalem building where the US plans to reopen it diplomatic mission to the Palestinains, March 4, 2019 | Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon |
Democratic members of the US Congress are expected to ask US President Joe Biden not to open the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem.
The move is the initiative of senior representatives from the moderate wing of the Democratic party.
While they said their request would be made public, at this stage, the representatives asked to remain anonymous to bolster the chances of their success.
The Democratic representatives voiced their opposition to the consulate's reopening at a meeting with Binyamin Regional Council Head Israel Gantz and adviser for US-Israel ties Ruth Lieberman. At the meeting, the two explained the opening of the consulate would send a message of support for the future division of Jerusalem and explained such a move was contrary to accepted diplomatic policy and in violation of Israeli and US law.
The representatives said they would demand Biden halt efforts to reopen the US diplomatic mission to the Palestinians, noting both the president and the Democratic party had more important issues to contend with at this time, chief among them Biden's massive infrastructure spending plan to boost the US economy.
To date, all efforts to block the reopening of the consulate have been led by Republicans. Last week, 35 Republican senators introduced a bill to stop the move, although they were unable to garner Democratic support for the legislation.
Binyamin Regional Council head Gantz told Israel Hayom, "The members of Congress we met with understand the significance of opening the consulate – harm to Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and harm even to US sovereignty as the transfer of the [US] Embassy [to Jerusalem] at the time was in effect the declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital."
Lieberman added: "It turns out the consulate issue is not a partisan one.
"We succeeded in spurring senior members of Congress from the Democratic party who will not hesitate to express their opposition to the move. They believe the opening of the consulate is a dangerous step for Jerusalem," she said.
The two Israeli officials also met with 60 Republican members of Congress. In that meeting, the Israelis presented US officials with evidence of "the Palestinian takeover of the territory" as well as the need to develop the area for the benefit of all residents.
Ariel Kahana
Source:https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/31/democrats-to-call-on-biden-not-to-open-palestinian-consulate-in-jlem/
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