JERUSALEM (CWNews.com) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday US President Bill Clinton intended to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv, the seat of government, to Jerusalem which Israel claims as its capital by the end of his term.
The State Department and the Clinton administration both denied they had any information on whether a final decision had been made. Such a move would be controversial while Israel and the Palestinians continue to dispute control of the city which is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Clinton had said on Friday that he will review moving the embassy and would make a decision by the end of the year.
Many US Jews and a significant number of congressmen support moving the embassy with resolutions supporting the idea having been debated within Congress in recent years.
Moving the embassy to Jerusalem would anger many Muslims who would regard the action as supporting Israel's claims and militant groups have vowed to target US diplomats if it happens.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs