'US Embassy' signs go up in Jerusalem, Trump won't attend

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‍At least three "US Embassy" road signs went up in Jerusalem on Monday ahead of next week's opening of the mission in the city, a Reuters witness said.

US President Donald Trump will however not attend the opening of the new embassy, the White House annonced, following recent signals he might.

The signs, in English, Hebrew and Arabic, were installed by workmen close to the south Jerusalem location of a US consulate building that will be repurposed as the embassy when it is officially relocated on May 14 from Tel Aviv.

Trump announced the move in December, saying he was making good on US legislation and presidential pledges, dating back decades, to back Israel’s designation of Jerusalem as its capital.

A worker holds a road sign directing to the US embassy, in the area of the US consulate in Jerusalem, May 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

Other world powers have not done so, sidestepping one of the thorniest disputes between Israel and the Palestinians, and Trump’s policy shift drew consternation among some US allies.

The Palestinians want their own state with a capital in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordanian control in the 1967 war and annexed in a move not recognized abroad.

"This move is not only illegal but will also thwart the achievement of a just and lasting peace between two sovereign and democratic states on the 1967 borders, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement.

The Trump administration has left the diplomatic door open for a possible Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, however.

"By recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the seat of its government, we’re recognizing reality," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to Israel last week.

"I also stress, as President Trump has said in December, the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem remain subject to negotiations between the parties, and we remain committed to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace that offers a brighter future for both Israel and the Palestinians."

Hanging a US flag next to an Israeli flag, next to the entrance to the US consulate in Jerusalem, May 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

Street signs in Israel have sometimes fallen victim to political vandalism, with Jews erasing Arabic or Arabs the Hebrew. An Israeli police spokesman played down such prospects for the US embassy signs.

"We’re not guarding the embassy signs, but of course there is upgraded security around the embassy which is already being implemented," he said. "There are also new CCTV cameras that have been set up in the area. The perimeter and all movement in the area are being closely watched."

The White House meanwhile announced on Monday that Trump will not travel to Israel next week for the opening of the new US embassy.

Instead, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will lead the US presidential delegation, which will also include Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, senior White House aide Jared Kushner, along with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

As late as last week, Trump had hinted that he could attend the embassy opening set for May 14, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters