A memo, released late on a Friday night, Obama Drops Key Clause in Jerusalem Embassy Memo
Late on Friday The Washington Times’ Christian Bourge obtained a copy of Presidential Determination 2009-19, latest in a series of pro forma memos to the Secretary of State entitled “Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act.” This determination is a legally required waiver under said act to continue to delay the May 31, 1999 deadline for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Nearly identical memos like this have been issued every six months for the last decade. Standard procedure, no big deal, right? Well in the Bush years the memo contained the sentence,
“My Administration remains committed to beginning the process of moving our embassy to Jerusalem.”
The Obama team has edited that passage out. This explains the Friday evening release. Congress should revisit the Jerusalem Embassy Act and remove the loophole that has allowed this charade to continue for ten years. Meanwhile the president should explain exactly what his policy is on this issue, and why he is not committed to beginning the process of moving the embassy.
Jimmy Carter, for one, is delighted over Obama’s Israel policy:
Ex-President Carter praises Obama Mideast policy Do read the article, but the main points are:
- Carter wants Netanyahu to do exactly what Obama wants – whether it’s in the bests interests of Israel or not.
- Carter doesn’t think that Iran won’t attack Israel. If 400 days of Iranian hostage crisis didn’t teach him not to trust Iran, nothing will.
Carter, a vile little man, will stand forever against Israel.
I’m not sure that was the intent of the Jerusalem Embassy Act now requires that the State Department begin construction and that the present embassy should have its budget halved. See Timetable 3. Read the whole thing because I doubt if there are too many legislative acts passed in America that refer to King David.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Embassy_Act
I think Pres Obama has actually placed the Democrats in Congress, another election coming up, because they will have to explain to Jewish voters why they have not begun construction since the temporary suspension clause has been well…suspended!
Too early, too many typos. First sentence should have been the intent of the Administration and the first sentence second paragraph should indicate that the Democrats are now in an awkward position without the fig leaf of the asap clause.