The U.S. on Monday will officially open its new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. This will correct a surreal policy whereby, since Israel\u2019s independence 70 years ago, the U.S. and other nations have refused to recognize its sovereignty over its capital city. President Trump announced in December he would reverse the old policy. By moving the embassy he now translates words into deed.<\/p>\n
The embassy\u2019s exact location within Jerusalem has gotten much less attention, but it is equally consequential. It will be housed in buildings used by the American Consulate, as well as in an adjacent former hotel purchased by the State Department in 2014. Most of that complex is located on the far side of the armistice line that divided Jerusalem from 1949 to 1967. Thus, the embassy site demonstrates that the U.S. not only sees Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital, but also\u2014consistent with bipartisan calls from Congress\u2014recognizes the city as unified.<\/p>\n
The \u201cGreen Line\u201d was created in the wake of Israel\u2019s 1948-49 War of Independence. Upon the country\u2019s founding, Jordan and its allies invaded, with the goal of preventing the creation of a Jewish state. Although they failed at that goal, the Arab armies did occupy significant territory when the armistice was called, including what is now widely referred to as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Jordan subsequently expelled all Jews from the areas under its control.<\/p>\n