Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021 This bill prohibits using federal funds to establish any diplomatic facility in Jerusalem other than the U.S. Embassy to Israel.
Editorial Explainer
The bill bars the federal government from spending money to open any diplomatic office in Jerusalem besides the existing U.S. Embassy to Israel. It reaffirms Jerusalem as Israel's capital and explicitly opposes reopening a U.S. consulate dedicated to serving Palestinians in the city.
Why it matters
This prevents the U.S. from establishing separate diplomatic representation for Palestinians in Jerusalem, a key Palestinian Authority demand in peace negotiations. The classification rests on the bill's explicit prohibition on Palestinian consular facilities and its assertion of Jerusalem as Israel's sole capital.