Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to consolidate the responsibility of the Office of Palestine Affairs into the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce announced Rubio’s decision at a press conference Tuesday.
“Committee Rubio has decided to fully integrate the responsibility of the Office of Palestine Affairs into other sections of the US Embassy in Jerusalem,” Bruce said. “This decision restores the first Trump period framework for a unified US diplomatic envoy in the Israeli capital reporting to the Israeli ambassador.”
She added that Israeli US ambassador Mike Huckabee will begin making the necessary changes to implement the merger over the coming weeks.
The Biden administration overturns Trump’s policies on Palestinians
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce told Secretary of State Marco Rubio about plans to merge the responsibility of the Office of Palestine Affairs with the US Embassy in Jerusalem. (State Department)
“The United States continues to commit to historic ties with Israel, ensuring peace to strengthen Israel’s security and create a better life for the entire region,” Bruce said.
The Biden administration established the US Palestinian Affairs Bureau in 2022 after overturning Trump’s closure to Palestinians in Jerusalem during his first administration.
Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and orders the embassy move for us
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to merge the responsibility of the Palestinian Affairs Bureau with the US Embassy in Jerusalem. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Biden’s move was seen by people who reward Palestinian leaders after a wave of terrorism in May 2022, in which two Palestinians shaking x-shaking x-shaking two Palestinians who killed Israelis in the town of Elad.
The first Trump administration helped negotiate a landmark agreement called the Abraham Accord in 2020 to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
US service members burn outside the Israeli embassy in DC
The road sign indicates the US Embassy in Jerusalem. (Hille Maier/TPS)
The Israeli government vehemently opposed the reopening of the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem to undermine the holy city as Israel’s undivided capital.
The 1995 US Embassy of Jerusalem Act recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calls for it to remain an undivided city.
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Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the following year.
Benjamin Weinthal of Fox News contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to greg.wehner @fox.com and Twitter @gregwehner.
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