ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationObama · D

Presidential Determination

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President Obama suspended for six months the statutory limitations in the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that would have required the U.S. embassy in Israel to be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and restricted State Department spending on overseas buildings. This determination, citing national security interests, was transmitted to Congress with a required report and published in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 76 FR 35713

Impact dates

  1. Transmission to Congress with report (trigger for suspension taking effect)

  2. Six-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 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 authorized to transmit determination and report

Near term (90d)

  • Six-month suspension period runs from June 2011

Long term

  • Continued precedent for serial suspensions of Jerusalem Embassy Act requirements
  • Ongoing U.S. policy ambiguity on Jerusalem status

Risks & tensions

  • Recurrent tension between congressional mandate and executive branch national security prerogatives
  • Serial suspensions since 1995 create persistent institutional friction; text does not specify whether this continues prior pattern
  • Jerusalem status remains politically sensitive in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Presidential Determination: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act · Executive Orders