As part of the May 14 ceremony to mark the official opening of the U.S. Embassy, a mezuzah will be affixed to the embassy building. According to a Channel 20 report, organizers decided on the unusual move of holding a religious ceremony to install the mezuzah as a gesture to Israel and following the recommendation of U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
At a special event to mark the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, Monday, Friedman said he sees Jerusalem as a religious place.
"I hope that young Jews, in particular children, will connect to their Jewish and Israeli roots," he said.
Meanwhile, preparations ahead of the May 14 transfer of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem are continuing apace. Work is being carried out on the site that also holds the consulate building on David Flusser Street in Jerusalem's Arnona neighborhood. In the initial stage following the transfer, the U.S. Embassy will be situated in what is now the U.S. Consulate building.
Works to pave an access road to the consulate building for Friedman and his staff along with another escape route to be used in case of emergency are currently underway. In addition, a new lighting system is being installed around the consulate to better illuminate the complex and make it easier to secure the site.
A large security team has been stationed on the roads leading to the consulate building to carefully examine everyone who approaches the area.
The Jerusalem Municipality, along with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, has also been helping to make sure the transfer goes as smoothly as possible.
While most local residents say they are happy about the U.S. Embassy's transfer to Jerusalem, there are those who fear the move will negatively impact their quiet neighborhood. In particular, they are concerned by the American demand that a wall be erected around the compound. Some residents have already filed their objections to the plan, but as the issue concerns a matter largely considered to be of major national importance, U.S. demands will likely be approved.
