Israel PM tells Biden's lawmakers he would not allow US consulate in Jerusalem to reopen

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett allegedly reiterated to the visiting Democratic US lawmakers that he will not allow the US consulate to reopen in Jerusalem, according to a report by The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden's administration has announced that the diplomatic mission responsible for Palestinian matters will be reopened.

The consulate was closed in 2019 by then US President Donald Trump, and its staff was merged into the US embassy, which had moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a year before, in what Palestinians saw as a downgrade of their relations with the US. 

The mission was based in West Jerusalem on Agron Street and maintained a consular services office in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the capital of their future state. According to diplomatic protocol, Israel must accredit the consul general that the United States dispatches to Jerusalem.

Bennett has termed the planned move "unacceptable". However, he acknowledged the Democratic Party's domestic political concerns and Biden's election promise to his followers, Axios News reported citing an Israeli official.

"I am not going to try to gain political points over this subject, but the reopening of the consulate is unacceptable," Bennett is said to have told the visiting congressional delegation, reported the outlet. 

Israeli PM meets with a bipartisan US delegation

Meanwhile on Tuesday, November 9, Israeli PM also met with a bipartisan US delegation, which also met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The delegation later travelled to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh.

"The topic of the consulate came up in each of our discussions," said the delegation head and Democratic Senator Chris Coons, as reported by The Times of Israel. He also emphasised the need for the US to maintain an open line of communication with the Palestinian Authority.

On Saturday, November 6, Bennett told reporters that there is no room for another American consulate in Jerusalem, and that his administration will oppose any attempts by the US to restore the Palestinian mission. Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayyeh stated that the US did not require Israel's "permission" to reopen its consulate, and urged Washington to keep its diplomatic commitments. However, according to The Times of Israel, a top US State Department official recently stated that the US would need Israel's authorization before reopening the consulate.

Image: AP