• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Politics
  4. Axios: “Biden Reiterates Plan to Reopen Jerusalem Consulate”
Politics

Axios: “Biden Reiterates Plan to Reopen Jerusalem Consulate”

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Sep 2021 11:53
  • 1 Shares

According to a recent report by Axios, The US president told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that he will not abandon his plan to reopen the US consulate in Occupied Jerusalem, despite Israeli Objections.

  • Biden and Bennett during their last meeting in the Oval Office (Getty Images)
    Biden and Bennett during their last meeting in the Oval Office (Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during their White House meeting that he will not abandon his plan to reopen the US consulate in Occupied Jerusalem (Al-Quds), Axios reported.

The move brings up a major point of disputation between the two administrations.

The consulate handled Palestinian relations for 25 years before being closed down by former US President Donald Trump. Bennett's government officials see the consulate issue as a political hot potato that could destabilize their unwieldy coalition, Axios said.

According to Israeli and US officials briefed on the meetings, Biden brought up the consulate issue several times during his bilateral meeting with Bennett and in the expanded meeting with their aides.

Biden emphasized his campaign promise to reopen the consulate, a pledge that Secretary of State Tony Blinken made to follow through.

The reopening of the consulate, according to several right-wing ministers, including Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar, would be an infringement on Israeli sovereignty in Al-Quds. It's also a prime target for Benjamin Netanyahu, the new opposition leader.

According to the website, this would be a prime point of attack for Benjamin Netanyahu against the Bennett administration. 

The Israeli government would need to approve the reopening of the consulate, and if one member defected over the issue, the government would be doomed.

One senior official told Axios that “if the Biden administration wants to see Netanyahu abandoning his Pilates classes and going back to the Prime Minister’s Office, this is the best way to do it," adding the Israelis had voiced their concerns about the threatening potential of the consulate issue several times to the Biden administration.

Furthermore, the Biden administration has previously agreed to postpone the reopening of the consulate until after Bennett's budget deadline of Nov. 4.

In 2017, Trump recognized Al-Quds as “Israel's” capital, and the consulate was later merged into the new US Embassy there, in violation of international law.

The Palestinians regard Al-Quds as their capital. East Al-Quds, the former consulate's location, is widely regarded as the future capital of any Palestinian state, Axios said.

During a Zoom call with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Bennett has lately said that "only one country has a capital in Jerusalem: Israel. I don't want to get into specifics, but this is my firm stance ", adding that he wants a “no drama” relationship with the Biden administration and to solve things in the quietest way possible after the budget passes in November.

On its account, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Palestinian Authority said that the Israeli government's opposition to the US consulate is a roadblock to peace and part of Israeli efforts to change the historical and legal status of the city.

Last week, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price emphasized that Blinken's commitment made during a visit to “Israel” and the Palestinian Authority in May, remains in place.

 The White House did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

The website concluded that no action on this issue is expected before November, giving both parties time to work toward a mutually acceptable solution.

  • Israel
  • US
  • Naftali Bennett
  • Joe Biden
  • US consulate in Jerusalem
  • Al Quds

Trending Now

All
Sullivan: Withdrawing from JCPOA disastrous strategic mistake

Sullivan: Withdrawing from JCPOA disastrous strategic mistake

Most Read

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

  • US & Canada
  • 22 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference on 25, February, 2022. (AFP)

Kiev unable to launch counteroffensive: Zelensky

  • Europe
  • 25 Mar
Estonian troops parade in Narva, Estonia (AP)

NATO weighs deploying 300,000 troops on Russia's borders

  • Europe
  • 19 Mar

Read this

All
American soldiers patrol near prison that was attacked by the ISIS militants in Hassakeh, Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 (AP).
MENA

'Bring our troops home', demand US anti-interventionist Republicans

  • 25 Mar
Stand Up To Racism activists outside the High Court of Justice for England and Wales in London, December 19, 2022. (AP)
Europe

Army bases, disused ferries possible fate of asylum seekers in UK

  • 25 Mar
NATO bombing Yugoslavia with depleted uranium 'inhumane experiment'
Europe

NATO bombing Yugoslavia with depleted uranium 'inhumane': Serbia

  • 25 Mar
Protesters attend a demonstration against France's restrictions, including a compulsory health pass, to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Paris, France, August 21, 2021. (Reuters)
Europe

French protesters, security forces clash violently in water protest

  • 25 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS