Netanyahu says Israel ‘disappointed’ by Trump decision not to move embassy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is “disappointed” by President Trump’s decision to keep the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv rather than moving it to Jerusalem. 

“Israel’s consistent position is that the American embassy, like the embassies of all countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, should be in Jerusalem, our eternal capital,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, according to multiple reports.

“Though Israel is disappointed that the embassy will not move at this time, we appreciate today’s expression of President Trump’s friendship to Israel and his commitment to moving the embassy in the future,” the prime minister said.

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Trump on Wednesday renewed a waiver that will temporarily keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv instead of moving it to Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital city. The Palestinian Authority disputes ownership of the city. 

The decision broke a promise Trump made during his campaign to move the embassy.

The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act requires the American embassy to move to Jerusalem, but every president since the act passed has signed a six-month waiver delaying the decision. 

The White House said in a statement following the decision that “no one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the president’s strong support for Israel.”

The White House said the decision was made to “maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and Palestinians.”