In 1995, Congress adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act urging the federal government to relocate the American Embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize that that city, and so importantly, is Israel’s capital. Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Ever since then, Israel has made its capital in the city of Jerusalem, the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times. However, through all of these years, presidents representing the United States have declined to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. That is why consistent with the Jerusalem embassy act, I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Source: New York Times December 06, 2017 18:37 UTC