To: Rabbis, Key Contacts, Synagogue Leaders

From: Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International Affairs and Communal Relations

Re: The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, a bipartisan legislative initiative which was passed by near unanimous decision of the United States Congress in 1995, states as a matter of United States policy that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel. The legislation also states that the United States Embassy should be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by 1999. Five unanimous United States congressional resolutions have stressed Jerusalem’s role as the united, undivided capital of Israel and the last four presidents of the United States all promised to move the Embassy during their campaigns for office. The U.S. Embassy must be moved to Jerusalem to rectify the unconscionable fact that only Israel, of all countries in the world, has been denied the right to choose her own capital.

The IPA of the Orthodox Union has been on record advocating moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem since the early 1970’s. There can be no reasonable defense for the American government’s continual refusal to relocate the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, Israel’s capital. Since the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 funds have been allocated. However, there has been much delay in the implementation of the construction and opening of a Jerusalem Embassy.

The time has come to move the United States Embassy to Jerusalem. No other people can claim an unbroken three thousand year identification with a particular city — Jerusalem has remained the heart and soul of the Jewish people for millennia.

The only time during the past two thousand years that the religious prerogatives of every faith and community with interests in Jerusalem have been respected in that city since Israel reunified Jerusalem in 1967. It is only under Israeli rule that members of all religions have enjoyed the access to their shrines.

We urge all our constituents to contact their elected officials, both local and national, and ask them to urge the U.S. Administration to move the United States Embassy in recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Now, when Israel will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the reunification of her historic capital, is a most fitting time for the United States to mark the occasion in this way. Failure to do so sends a dangerous message to Israel’s antagonists; the utterly inaccurate suggestion that this crucial issue remains unresolved and open to future compromise.

Please contact your elected officials at the addresses below. Also contact your local elected officials.

President Bill Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500 Secretary of State Albright
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Honorable (Senator)
US Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Honorable (Representative)
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

It is crucial that all Orthodox Union and IPA constituents make every effort to contact their elected officials, local and national, about this issue. Urge them to contact the U.S. Administration to move the Embassy to Jerusalem. Urge them to introduce and pass resolutions in the upcoming weeks to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the eternal and undivided capital of Israel.

As Israel’s sovereignty over her historic capital, Jerusalem, continues to be challenged, your action is needed now.

BE