Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called on the government to oppose the Biden administration's plan to reopen the US consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem.
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The move has been criticized by both coalition and opposition lawmakers with New Hope leader Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar saying there was "no way" the government would allow it, and Likud MK Nir Barkat, formerly the mayor of Jerusalem, saying he would seek to outlaw the move.
Still, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said that the Biden administration plans to press ahead with its plan as part of efforts to deepen ties with Palestinians,
Blinken reiterated his pledge to move toward with re-establishing the consulate, which had traditionally been a base for diplomatic outreach to the Palestinians before it was closed in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump.
However, he stopped short of setting a date for reopening the consulate.
Speaking at a news conference with visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Blinken said, "We'll be moving forward with the process of opening a consulate as part of deepening of those ties with the Palestinians."
Responding to the statement, Netanyahu tweeted, "Once again, the Bennett government 'contains' [the situation] even when it means dividing our capital, Jerusalem.
"The State of Israel must oppose this move in every way possible," he stated.
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