ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationG.W. Bush · R

Presidential Determination

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President Bush suspended for six months the statutory requirements of the Jerusalem Embassy Act that would have forced the U.S. Embassy in Israel to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and cut State Department funding if not moved. This was a routine national-security waiver exercising authority granted by Congress.

Federal Register Open PDF 70 FR 75929

Impact dates

  1. 6-month suspension period expires

  2. Transmission to Congress and publication in Federal Register

Key directives

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

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Suspension takes effect upon transmission to Congress
  • Secretary of State directed to transmit determination and report to Congress
  • Secretary of State directed to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

  • Six-month suspension period runs through approximately June 2006

Long term

  • Continued delay of embassy relocation to Jerusalem
  • Potential repeated future suspensions under same statutory authority

Risks & tensions

  • Recurrent tension between congressional mandate to move embassy and executive branch national-security waivers
  • Regional sensitivities regarding Jerusalem status in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
  • Document notes commitment to move embassy but defers action indefinitely through repeated suspensions
Presidential Determination: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act · Executive Orders