Officials in Jerusalem are waiting for an official US request to reopen a Jerusalem consulate that for years served as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians.
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In a move aimed at bolstering the standing of the Palestinian Authority, US Secretary Antony
Blinken announced US plans to reopen the Jerusalem consulate on an official visit to Ramallah two weeks ago.
For years, the office served as the de facto embassy to the Palestinians before being shuttered by the administration of former US President Donald Trump in March 2019.
Israel holds that the opening of a consulate would violate both international protocol and Israeli law and would be seen as rewarding Hamas.
Israel Hayom has learned Jerusalem relayed the message to Washington it was "managing affairs in Jerusalem with sovereignty and responsibility."
Israeli opposition to the American move was also relayed in talks between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben
Shabbat, as well as in talks between US officials and Israel's envoy to the US and the UN Gilad Erdan.
Israeli officials believe the reopening of the consulate would require amendments to US legislation as US law dating back to the 1990s recognizes Jerusalem as the
Israeli capital. Many in the Democratic party supported the legislation, which received almost unanimous support at the time. In addition, given the balance of power in the Senate, officials believe US President Joe Biden may not see such a move as worthwhile at this stage.
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