Staff Reports
The administration of President Joe Biden announced the inauguration of a “US Office of Palestinian Affairs” in Jerusalem on Thursday, partially overturning previous President Donald Trump’s decision to close the Jerusalem consulate to Palestinians.
Biden is allegedly planning a trip to the Middle East in July, which may be interpreted as an indication that he wants to improve the US-Palestinian relationship.
In December 2017, Trump declared Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital and relocated the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Trump stated. “This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.”
The Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission in Washington, D.C., was likewise shuttered by Trump in 2018.
In 2019, the former president closed the Jerusalem Consulate General, thereby cutting off Palestinians from Washington, D.C. The work of the consulate was then transferred to the United States Embassy in Jerusalem.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem announced on Tuesday that Israeli visa applications have been postponed, with fresh Israeli visa applications to resume in 2023.
According to Politico, Biden is also considering meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after he ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a move that has been criticized by Democrats.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Daily Caller.
