The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 06, 2017
Statement by President Trump on Jerusalem
Diplomatic Reception Room
1:07 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. When I came into office, I promised to look at the world’s challenges with open eyes and very
fresh thinking. We cannot solve our problems by making the same failed assumptions and repeating the same failed
strategies of the past. Old challenges demand new approaches.
My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
In 1995, Congress adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act, urging the federal government to relocate the American embassy to
Jerusalem and to recognize that that city -- and so importantly -- is Israel’s capital. This act passed Congress by an
overwhelming bipartisan majority and was reaffirmed by a unanimous vote of the Senate only six months ago.
Yet, for over 20 years, every previous American president has exercised the law’s waiver, refusing to move the U.S.
embassy to Jerusalem or to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.
Presidents issued these waivers under the belief that delaying the recognition of Jerusalem would advance the cause of
peace. Some say they lacked courage, but they made their best judgments based on facts as they understood them at the
time. Nevertheless, the record is in. After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would
now produce a different or better result.
Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering.
I've judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace
between Israel and the Palestinians. This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a
lasting agreement.
Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital.
Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace.
It was 70 years ago that the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel. Ever since then,
Israel has made its capital in the city of Jerusalem -- the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times.
Today, Jerusalem is the seat of the modern Israeli government. It is the home of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, as
well as the Israeli Supreme Court. It is the location of the official residence of the Prime Minister and the President.
It is the headquarters of many government ministries.
For decades, visiting American presidents, secretaries of state, and military leaders have met their Israeli
counterparts in Jerusalem, as I did on my trip to Israel earlier this year.
Jerusalem is not just the heart of three great religions, but it is now also the heart of one of the most successful
democracies in the world. Over the past seven decades, the Israeli people have built a country where Jews, Muslims, and
Christians, and people of all faiths are free to live and worship according to their conscience and according to their
beliefs.
Jerusalem is today, and must remain, a place where Jews pray at the Western Wall, where Christians walk the Stations of
the Cross, and where Muslims worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
However, through all of these years, presidents representing the United States have declined to officially recognize
Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In fact, we have declined to acknowledge any Israeli capital at all.
But today, we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more, or less, than a
recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It's something that has to be done.
That is why, consistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act, I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to
move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This will immediately begin the process of hiring architects,
engineers, and planners, so that a new embassy, when completed, will be a magnificent tribute to peace.
In making these announcements, I also want to make one point very clear: This decision is not intended, in any way, to
reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement. We want an agreement that is a
great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position of any final status
issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested
borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.
The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides. I
intend to do everything in my power to help forge such an agreement. Without question, Jerusalem is one of the most
sensitive issues in those talks. The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides.
In the meantime, I call on all parties to maintain the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites, including the Temple Mount,
also known as Haram al-Sharif.
Above all, our greatest hope is for peace, the universal yearning in every human soul. With today’s action, I reaffirm
my administration’s longstanding commitment to a future of peace and security for the region.
There will, of course, be disagreement and dissent regarding this announcement. But we are confident that ultimately, as
we work through these disagreements, we will arrive at a peace and a place far greater in understanding and cooperation.
This sacred city should call forth the best in humanity, lifting our sights to what it is possible; not pulling us back
and down to the old fights that have become so totally predictable. Peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to
reach.
So today, we call for calm, for moderation, and for the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate. Our
children should inherit our love, not our conflicts.
I repeat the message I delivered at the historic and extraordinary summit in Saudi Arabia earlier this year: The Middle
East is a region rich with culture, spirit, and history. Its people are brilliant, proud, and diverse, vibrant and
strong. But the incredible future awaiting this region is held at bay by bloodshed, ignorance, and terror.
Vice President Pence will travel to the region in the coming days to reaffirm our commitment to work with partners
throughout the Middle East to defeat radicalism that threatens the hopes and dreams of future generations.
It is time for the many who desire peace to expel the extremists from their midst. It is time for all civilized nations,
and people, to respond to disagreement with reasoned debate –- not violence.
And it is time for young and moderate voices all across the Middle East to claim for themselves a bright and beautiful
future.
So today, let us rededicate ourselves to a path of mutual understanding and respect. Let us rethink old assumptions and
open our hearts and minds to possible and possibilities. And finally, I ask the leaders of the region -- political and
religious; Israeli and Palestinian; Jewish and Christian and Muslim -- to join us in the noble quest for lasting peace.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless Israel. God bless the Palestinians. And God bless the United States. Thank you very
much. Thank you.
(The proclamation is signed.)
END
1:19 P.M. EST
--
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 06, 2017
President Donald J. Trump's Proclamation on Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel
“My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.” –
President Donald J. Trump
RECOGNIZING JERUSALEM: President Donald J. Trump is following through on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the
capital of the State of Israel and has instructed the State Department to begin to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Israel
from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
• Today, December 6, 2017, President Trump recognized Jerusalem, the ancient capital of the Jewish people, as the
capital of the State of Israel.
o In taking this action, President Trump fulfilled a major campaign promise of his and many previous Presidential
candidates.
• The Trump Administration is fully coordinated in supporting this historic action by the President, and has
engaged broadly with both our Congressional and international partners on this issue.
o President Trump’s action enjoys broad, bipartisan support in Congress, including as expressed in the Jerusalem
Recognition Act of 1995. This Act was reaffirmed by a unanimous vote of the Senate only six months ago.
• President Trump has instructed the State Department to develop a plan to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem.
• Departments and Agencies have implemented a robust security plan to ensure the safety of our citizens and assets
in the region.
STATUS OF JERUSALEM: President Trump recognizes that specific boundaries of sovereignty in Jerusalem is highly sensitive
and subject to final status negotiations.
• President Trump recognizes that the status of Jerusalem is a highly-sensitive issue, but he does not think the
peace process is aided by ignoring the simple truth that Jerusalem is home to Israel’s legislature, supreme court,
President, and Prime Minister.
• President Trump recognizes that the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem are subject to final
status negotiations between the parties.
• President Trump reaffirms United States support for the status quo at the Temple Mount, also known as Haram al
Sharif.
COMMITTED TO THE PEACE PROCESS: President Trump is committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement between Israelis and
Palestinians.
• President Trump remains committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians,
and he is optimistic that peace can be achieved.
• Delaying the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has not helped achieve peace over the past two
decades.
• President Trump is prepared to support a two-state solution to the dispute between the Israelis and
Palestinians, if agreed to by the parties.