Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain said during his visit to the Middle East that he supports moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Every country in the world that previously stationed its envoys in the capital moved them out after the Six-Day War in 1967, in which eastern Jerusalem was restored to the Jewish state. "I support Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Sen. McCain said in Jordan before traveling to Israel. Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator Saeb Erekat charged that Sen. McCain's position contradicts the Bush administration's policy.

Virtually every major presidential candidate has made similar statements, but American President George W. Bush, like his predecessors, has exercised a waiver that allows him to delay implementing a Congressional law requiring moving the embassy to Jerusalem. The waiver permits the delay if it is for reasons of security.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama has not stated his position on moving the embassy.