In his election campaign, US President Joe Biden promised Palestinians that with his entry into the White House, the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem, which was closed during President Donald Trump's presidency, will reopen. Despite these promises, almost a year after Biden took office, no agreement has yet been reached between the US administration and the Israeli government on the matter. The Israeli government refuses to allow the opening of a Palestinian consulate on Agron Street in the west of the city, and is unwilling to allow a consulate to open in East Jerusalem, as requested by the United States and the Palestinians. The lack of agreement is a source of tension between Israel and the United States. So far the US has not exerted much pressure, but has emphasized that it is interested in finding a solution that will provide the Palestinians with an outlet and reopen the channels of direct communication with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian public, not through the US Embassy in Israel. The Israeli government, on the other hand, has made it clear to the United States that this move arouses much political opposition within the government and could even lead to its dissolution, and a solution must be found within Palestinian territory and not within Israel.
The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conducted a survey on social media, asking: "Should Israel change its position and agree to the establishment of the consulate in East Jerusalem in exchange for exempting Israeli citizens from the need for visas to the US?"
The results of the survey indicate broad opposition (78 percent) to any move that would allow the opening of a US representation vis-à-vis the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, even if Israel could receive desirable compensation in return. The main arguments against the move see the opening of the consulate as a step that divides Jerusalem and shows that Israel will be willing to give up parts of the capital in the future. It acknowledges the Palestinian claim that Jerusalem is also the capital of the Palestinian state, and sees the possibility of opening a consulate as succumbing to inappropriate external dictates. Some respondents argued that the very American request shows inconsistency between Israeli and American interests, and even noted a sense of betrayal by the Biden administration that overturned a previous Trump administration decision and knowingly undermines the city's unity. Opponents of the proposal have made it clear they believe an American consulate dealing with Palestinian affairs should be opened in Ramallah, or in the Palestinian territories around Jerusalem.
In contrast, 10 percent expressed willingness to open the consulate in East Jerusalem in exchange for a visa waiver, noting that in practice Jerusalem is divided and Israeli sovereignty is hardly implemented in the east of the city, and hence there is no impediment to establishing a consulate there. They also noted the consulate had been open for decades, serving the Palestinians, with no impact on Israeli policy in Jerusalem.
For Israelis, Jerusalem is a value-based issue of ideological importance, and providing incentives will not ease the strong opposition to a move that is perceived as undermining Israeli sovereignty in the capital. Furthermore, such a move could not materialize in a government that is built on a coalition encompassing a range of ideologies and has pledged not to make decisions of political importance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
In his election campaign, US President Joe Biden promised Palestinians that with his entry into the White House, the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem, which was closed during President Donald Trump's presidency, will reopen. Despite these promises, almost a year after Biden took office, no agreement has yet been reached between the US administration and the Israeli government on the matter. The Israeli government refuses to allow the opening of a Palestinian consulate on Agron Street in the west of the city, and is unwilling to allow a consulate to open in East Jerusalem, as requested by the United States and the Palestinians. The lack of agreement is a source of tension between Israel and the United States. So far the US has not exerted much pressure, but has emphasized that it is interested in finding a solution that will provide the Palestinians with an outlet and reopen the channels of direct communication with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian public, not through the US Embassy in Israel. The Israeli government, on the other hand, has made it clear to the United States that this move arouses much political opposition within the government and could even lead to its dissolution, and a solution must be found within Palestinian territory and not within Israel.
The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conducted a survey on social media, asking: "Should Israel change its position and agree to the establishment of the consulate in East Jerusalem in exchange for exempting Israeli citizens from the need for visas to the US?"
The results of the survey indicate broad opposition (78 percent) to any move that would allow the opening of a US representation vis-à-vis the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, even if Israel could receive desirable compensation in return. The main arguments against the move see the opening of the consulate as a step that divides Jerusalem and shows that Israel will be willing to give up parts of the capital in the future. It acknowledges the Palestinian claim that Jerusalem is also the capital of the Palestinian state, and sees the possibility of opening a consulate as succumbing to inappropriate external dictates. Some respondents argued that the very American request shows inconsistency between Israeli and American interests, and even noted a sense of betrayal by the Biden administration that overturned a previous Trump administration decision and knowingly undermines the city's unity. Opponents of the proposal have made it clear they believe an American consulate dealing with Palestinian affairs should be opened in Ramallah, or in the Palestinian territories around Jerusalem.
In contrast, 10 percent expressed willingness to open the consulate in East Jerusalem in exchange for a visa waiver, noting that in practice Jerusalem is divided and Israeli sovereignty is hardly implemented in the east of the city, and hence there is no impediment to establishing a consulate there. They also noted the consulate had been open for decades, serving the Palestinians, with no impact on Israeli policy in Jerusalem.
For Israelis, Jerusalem is a value-based issue of ideological importance, and providing incentives will not ease the strong opposition to a move that is perceived as undermining Israeli sovereignty in the capital. Furthermore, such a move could not materialize in a government that is built on a coalition encompassing a range of ideologies and has pledged not to make decisions of political importance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.