Pallone Calls for U.S. to Officially Recognize Jerusalem as Undivided Capital of Israel

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. D-NJ) Wednesday called for action on The Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act which would recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel and recognize that the U.S. Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than January 1, 2013.

“It’s time for the U.S. government to take action on this issue,” said Pallone. “We must move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and leave no doubt that we support an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This bill will do just that.”

In celebration of Jerusalem Day, Pallone was joined by the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, Congressman Trent Franks, Congressman Eliot Engel, Congressman Doug Lamborn and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley who all joined in the call for action.

Pallone is a cosponsor of the legislation that amends the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to eliminate the President's waiver authority that has been repeatedly exercised to keep the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. It requires any official U.S. document that lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The bill also includes language which limits appropriations for the U.S. Embassy in Israel to ensure the embassy can and will move to Jerusalem.

“By making it the explicit policy to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital, the U.S. makes a strong statement of where we stand on this issue. I am committed to working with these great champions of Israel and their Jewish constituents to sign-on many more members in support of this legislation in the House over the coming weeks and months,” Pallone added.