Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, applauded the United States Senate for the introduction of the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 2009.

Since 1967, Jerusalem has been the united capital city of Israel, yet the United States has failed to recognize it as such. The United States maintains its embassy in the functioning capital of every country with which it has diplomatic relations. Israel has remained the exception to this rule. The Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 2009 calls for the State Department to move the American Embassy from its current location in Tel-Aviv to its rightful place in Jerusalem. The legislation will also remove the Presidential waiver from the Jerusalem Embassy Law (Public Law 104-45) enacted in 1995.

The Orthodox Union would like to extend special gratitude to Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas for his continued leadership on this issue and for his chief sponsorship of the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act. The Orthodox Union also wishes to thank the original co-sponsors of this important piece of legislation including, Senators Cornyn, Inhofe and Kyl.

Nathan J. Diament, director of the Union’s Institute for Public Policy stated:

It is time to move the US embassy in Israel to its rightful place in Jerusalem. Just as the United States locates its embassy in the duly designated capitals of other nations, so too it should locate its embassy in Israel’s recognized capital.

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