The new US ambassador, Tom Nides, and his staff began searching for the compound where he would live in Jerusalem, when he took office in a few weeks.
According to American law, which in 1995 defined Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the ambassador's residence must be in Jerusalem, and this is also the diplomatic practice according to which the ambassador's residence is located in the capital of the host country.
Mobile is looking for a new residential complex in Jerusalem because it does not want to live in the American complex on Agron Street, which has been declared by Israel and the US as the official residence of the ambassador - except that many in Israel's political system are unaware of it. Ambassadors need to get the approval of the host country.In the American case, Israel approved in 2019 to the previous administration that the compound in Agron will serve as the official residence of the US Ambassador.
The designated ambassador for Nidas was supposed to, in a normal situation, live in the compound in Agron - as this is the official situation approved by the two countries.
However, the Biden administration is interested in reopening the Palestinian consulate in the Agron compound, so its representatives are working to locate another compound in Jerusalem for it.
Designated Ambassador Tom Nides, Photo: Photo: EP
Sources in the political system told "Israel Today" that there is no chance that Israel will reject an American request to establish another house in Jerusalem as the official residence of the ambassador. According to a veteran Israeli diplomat, "there is no such film." However, he noted that "the unknown fact that the compound in Agron serves as the ambassador's official residence, certainly complicates matters. Israel will not be able to give it consular status, as for it it is a message of the division of Jerusalem, which also sets a dangerous precedent for European countries." "B will not allow the ambassador to live there - because for the current administration it is intended to be a consulate for the Palestinians, and the permit for mobile phones to live there will be interpreted as a withdrawal from its demand in this matter. But the parties will also find it difficult to leave the place undefined, as this will provoke criticism. It is indeed a complication. "
It should be noted that the previous ambassador, David Friedman, did use the historic complex in the center of Jerusalem as an official guest house and held a series of events there.
During his tenure, the administration also sold the ambassador's previous residence, in Herzliya Pituach, to the late businessman Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Dr. Miriam (due diligence: Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of "Israel Today").
As will be recalled, Israel is strongly opposed to the Agron compound being used as a consulate for the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Bennett said that "there is no place for an American consulate that serves the Palestinians in Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid added:" Sovereignty in Jerusalem belongs to one state - the State of Israel. "