US President Bill Clinton signed a presidential decree a few days ago stating that for reasons of national security, the US Embassy in Israel will not be moved to Jerusalem, reported the Israeli Haaretz newspaper, quoting US diplomatic sources.
Sources were quoted by the daily as saying that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was informed of Clinton's decision beforehand and did not ask Clinton to change it.
The American law stipulates that the administration must move its embassy to Jerusalem by May 1999.
The president may, however, sign a presidential decree every six months granting the administration a waiver from moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
Until now, Clinton has signed the decrees on the dates set by law, said the paper.
In August, Clinton said he hoped to open a US embassy in the capital of a Palestinian state if peace talks were concluded by the end of the year, according to press reports -- Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
