The US embassy in Israel will officially be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next wek. When that happens, it'll be the belated fulfillment of a promise the US made to Israel 23 years ago.
In 1995, the Jerusalem Embassy Act was passed into law. It determined that "each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital."
It also recognized some basic realities on the ground:
"Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel."
"The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel's President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions."
"In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict known as the Six Day War."
"The United States maintains its embassy in the functioning capital of every country except in the case of our democratic friend and strategic ally, the State of Israel."
These realities haven't changed, and it's a good thing the US is finally making good on its promise to acknowledge them and act accordingly. Section 7 of the Embassy Act contained a provision under which presidents were entitled to push off the moving of the embassy in six-month chunks. Until now, every president has done that.
