Why did the United States have two official embassies in the State of Israel?

Question

Michael J. - The consulate was at one time considered an official embassy as well - I don't want to say any more because I don't want to give away the answer.

H - The seat of Israeli government - the Knesset - is located in East Jerusalem. The reality that many governments for poltical reality don't want to recognize the physical reality of this matter is there business. The Knesset has always held its official meetings in Jerusalem as a historic reality too. BTW - there was a time that the US office would have issued visas and such. Something happened that changed all that - do you know what it was?

You are corrent - the Knesset is in Western - not Eastern Jerusalem - good thing I am on summer vacation right now - lol.

To understand and answer this question correctly you must understand their were two embassies planed by the US as far back as 1947. None of the answers I have read are wrong - they are just using current information. I am not sure how to give a better hint that this.

Answer 1

I was not aware they did. I know there is an embassy in Tel Aviv and a consulate in Jerusalem however.

EDIT: Is it then one embassy for each prospective country in 1947?

Answer 2

Simply because no one, including the United States, recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of "Israel". So it correctly maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv and operates a counsulate in Jerusalem.

That consulate in Jerusalem may well (and rightfully) become the embassy to Palestine when America grants its recognition as Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.

Answer 3

Well, let us correct a few minor errors. The U.S. Embassy to Israel is in Tel Aviv, while the Consulate is in Jerusalem. And the Knesset is located in West Jerusalem and not East Jerusalem.

The reason for the importance attached to the Jerusalem Consulate is simply that America--regarded as a good friend of Israel--still does not even recognize Jerusalem (even WEST Jerusalem) as being part of Israel.

Read that carefully, because it may be hard to believe, but it is a fact.

Friends of Israel may want to write their congressmen to protest this absurdity.

Further, the congress every few years passes a resolution to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to the capital of Israel--Jerusalem

But the president never agrees.

.

Answer 4

"The seat of Israeli government - the Knesset - is located in East Jerusalem. "

I'm assuming this was a typo, and you meant "West Jerusalem".

Ivri Anochi is correct. The US embassy is located in Tel Aviv and there are two consulates in Jerusalem, one in the west, one in the east.

There were plans a while ago (around 1994) to make the consulate in Jerusalem the official embassy, but due to political considerations (read: They are afraid of making certain people upset who don't even recognize Israel anyways) it never happened.

And H, whatever you may think, a country has the right to make their capital wherever they damn well choose to. And since Israel runs the country from Jerusalem, the capital is Jerusalem.

Answer 5

The State Department has always been pro-Arab.

Answer 6

A US Embassy located in Jerusalem is not able to issue official birth or death certificates for American citizen living in Israel.

How should they name the place of issue?
Jerusalem, disputed territory? because "Israel" would be wrong.
In Tel Aviv certificates can officialy be issued saying:
Tel Aviv, Israel.

To state the country is also necessary when an american passport needs to be issued, and I doubt that it can be issued in a: "disputed" territory.

Btw: Israel's capital is Tel Aviv and not Jerusalem and Embassies normaly are located in the country's capitals anyway.

Take care

Answer 7

The US Embassy was supposed to move to Jerusalem and I think it's too bad that hasn't happened. Hopefully it will.

Answer 8

that's why the Palestinian could not reaching the Israeli Areas ,
they established 2 offices