Congress doesn't have to require the State Department to identify Jerusalem as part of Israel on passports, The New York Times reported, after the Supreme Court on Monday backed a former White House ruling.
The Supreme Court voted six to three in a decision that reaffirmed the US president exclusive authority to recognize foreign governments, which was ruled by the appeals court in 2013.
The case was brought by a couple who requested their Jerusalem-born son's passport say he was born in Israel.
Menachem Zivotofsky was born not long after a US law in 2002 required the State Department to record the place of birth as Israel on passports if parents requested it of their child born in Jerusalem. While former president George W. Bush signed the law, he said he wouldn't follow the provision because it "interferes with the president's constitutional authority to conduct the nation's foreign affairs," The New York Times said.
President Barack Obama also objected to the bill and hasn't been following it, saying Jerusalem's status should be determined by talks between Arabs and Israelis.
