Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President George W. Bush suspended for six months the limitations in the Jerusalem Embassy Act that would have required moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and withholding State Department funds for building maintenance abroad. The determination was transmitted to Congress with a required report under section 7(a) of the 1995 Act.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 42705

Impact dates

Dec 14, 2002
6-month suspension period expires

Key directives

Suspend limitations in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of Jerusalem Embassy Act for 6 months
Transmit determination to Congress accompanied by report under section 7(a)
Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · State Department

Timeline

Immediate

Suspension takes effect upon transmission to Congress
Determination and report transmitted to Congress
Federal Register publication authorized

Near term (90d)

6-month suspension period runs through approximately December 14, 2002

Long term

Continued postponement of embassy relocation to Jerusalem
Potential repeated suspensions under Act's framework

Risks & tensions

Recurrent use of waiver authority since 1995 creates tension between congressional mandate and executive branch foreign policy prerogatives
Jerusalem status remains sensitive in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Document frames suspension as protecting 'national security interests' without elaboration