Bill passes to prevent opening US consulate in Jerusalem to service Palestinians

The Knesset passed into law on Tuesday a measure intended to prevent the opening of consulates in Jerusalem that are intended to service Palestinians in the West Bank.

The bill, proposed by MKs Ze’ev Elkin (United Right) and Dan Illouz (Likud), is an amendment to the quasi-constitutional Basic Law: Jerusalem the Capital of Israel. The bill says that the only diplomatic embassies in Jerusalem must be ones of states that are accredited to the State of Israel, meaning countries with diplomatic treaties with Israel.

The bill adds that Israel will encourage opening such embassies in Jerusalem.

The bill’s explanatory section states that the law only applies to new embassies; existing embassies will remain as they are. In effect, the bill will prevent the formation of a new consulate that will service Palestinians, as new consulates must now only service residents of Israel or officials tasked with interacting with Israel.

In a statement following the bill’s passing, Elkin recalled that during the previous government’s tenure, he had threatened to quit the coalition if a new US consulate were opened. He passed the bill “in order for the State of Israel not to find itself again under diplomatic pressure to open consulates.”

“Jerusalem is the eternal and undividable capital of the State of Israel, and we will not enable any other country to question our sovereignty over a unified Jerusalem. No pressure will deter us from maintaining this important principle,” Elkin said.

Illouz added, “Whoever questions [a unified] Jerusalem questions the very existence of the State of Israel, and we will not accept this. This law clarifies once and for all: Jerusalem is ours, and it is not for sale.”