FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS COMMENDS INTRODUCTION OF BIPARTISAN JERUSALEM RESOLUTION AND CALLS FOR QUICK PASSAGE NEXT WEEK

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America commends the introduction, Wednesday, of a bipartisan resolution “relating to the 40th anniversary of the reunification of the City of Jerusalem” by Rep. Tom Lantos, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Member on the Committee. The resolution is expected to be considered by the full House next week. The Orthodox Union urges quick passage.

The House Concurrent Resolution, H.CON.RES.152, “commends Israel for its administration of the undivided city of Jerusalem for the past 40 years, during which Israel has respected the rights of all religious groups,” and calls upon the President to discontinue the waiver contained in the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45), immediately begin the process of relocating the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem; and calls upon the Secretary of State to affirm as United States policy that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of the State of Israel.

Nathan J. Diament, director of the Union’s Institute for Public Policy stated:
“In addition to celebrating this important milestone, H.CON.RES.152 would send a clear message to the Administration that 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. We thank Reps. Lantos and Ros-Lehtinen, along with the other co-sponsors, for their leadership on this issue and we look forward to its passage in the coming weeks.”

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