Security considerations have prompted the United States to consider to transfer part of its consular operations in East Jerusalem to a new facility in the West of the city. U.S. State Department representatives and consular staff have looked at several sites and sources believe that the new consular building will be located in Arnona, a Jewish neighborhood that used to be on the line dividing East and West Jerusalem.
According to the Israeli Haaretz daily, the U.S. consulate has found an alternative site close to the Diplomat Hotel in Arnona and has already held initial contacts with the Jerusalem Municipality about planning permits for the location.
The U.S. consulate in east Jerusalem serves the Palestinian population in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The consulate near the walled Old City does not meet security criteria since it is not set back from the road, said Jessica Davies, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Consulate. Certain properties for a new site in the city have been considered but nothing has been finalized, Davies said, according to AP.
For his part, Palestinian legislator Ziad Abu Zayyad said Tuesday a move to west Jerusalem would mean that the Bush administration "expands (Israel's) mandate over east Jerusalem." "Any change of the status of the consulate of east Jerusalem will mean a change in the American position toward the status of east Jerusalem," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
