BICOM

Speculation is mounting in the Israeli media that US President Donald Trump will announce the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of the week.

The News (formerly Channel 2) reported that the move is now very likely because of significant pressure on the Trump administration from Evangelical Christian supporters to make good his pre-election commitment to do so. The report also claimed that Trump is determined to move the embassy and has instructed officials to prepare for relocation.

US Vice President Mike Pence said that “Trump is actively considering when and how to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem” at an event marking 70 years since the United Nations vote in favour of the partition plan on Tuesday.

“Our administration is also committed to finally bringing peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict… In the recent months, we’ve made valuable progress toward achieving that noble goal,” he added.

Speaking at the same event, Likud Minister Israel Katz said: “It is time to fulfil President Trump’s promise and vision of the prophets and move the embassy to Jerusalem.”

Any announcement is expected to be part of a coordinated US-led effort in the peace process, with the embassy move acting as an incentive for Israeli participation.

In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act obligating the State Department to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. But for 22 years, every US President has postponed the move by signing a waiver every six months to delay its implementation. Trump himself signed such a waiver on June 1 and has until 1 December (tomorrow) to do so again.

The White House and Israeli Government have yet to comment on the speculation.