US President George Bush has signed a Congress-approved resolution calling for the United States to officially recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish State’s legitimate capital. Bush says, however, that his administration's policy toward Jerusalem will remain unchanged, maintaining that the Jerusalem provision is, in the words of his press secretary, "advisory, not mandatory." As such, he has no plans to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Congress passed the Jerusalem addendum last week as part of the government’s Foreign Relations Authorization Act for the year 2003. The resolution states that official US government documents that list country’s capitals will have to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A second provision stipulates that US citizens born in Jerusalem may request that “Israel” be included as their country of birth. Until now, only “Jerusalem” appeared - as if the city were a separate independent entity.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher criticized the Congressional resolution. He said that it hinders the "advance[ment] of our [US] interests in the region and promoting a just and lasting peace." Boucher added that Secretary of State Colin Powell believes the city's future is for Israel and the Palestinians to decide through negotiations.
Congress passed the Jerusalem addendum last week as part of the government’s Foreign Relations Authorization Act for the year 2003. The resolution states that official US government documents that list country’s capitals will have to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A second provision stipulates that US citizens born in Jerusalem may request that “Israel” be included as their country of birth. Until now, only “Jerusalem” appeared - as if the city were a separate independent entity.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher criticized the Congressional resolution. He said that it hinders the "advance[ment] of our [US] interests in the region and promoting a just and lasting peace." Boucher added that Secretary of State Colin Powell believes the city's future is for Israel and the Palestinians to decide through negotiations.