US, Israel sign deal for permanent embassy in Jerusalem

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Jerusalem: The United States signed an agreement on Wednesday to construct a permanent embassy compound in Jerusalem, marking the next step in cementing its diplomatic presence in the city following the relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv in 2018.

The deal, signed by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, sets aside property in the Allenby site in southern Jerusalem for the new embassy facility. The move was regarded as another symbol of the two countries' ‘unbreakable alliance’ by Israel.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Huckabee stated that the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israel's ‘eternal’ capital and that the new compound will serve as a permanent hub for American diplomatic efforts in the country.

The present US embassy is operating from temporary buildings in Jerusalem since President Trump declared Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017 and ordered the embassy's relocation from Tel Aviv, effectively reversing decades of US policy.

The status of Jerusalem has remained one of the most sensitive topics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state, but majority of the international world believes that the city's final status should be determined through negotiations.