FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORTHODOX UNION EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH PRESIDENT’S WAIVER OF JERUSALEM EMBASSY MOVE

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, through its Institute for Public Affairs, expressed its disappointment with the decision of President Bush to issue a national security waiver and thereby postpone the relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for six months.

The waiver was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act – a measure strongly supported by the Orthodox Jewish community. Similar waivers have been issued by President Bush and the prior administration each year since the Act’s passage in 1995.

Nathan Diament, director of the Union’s Institute, stated:
The Orthodox Jewish community greatly appreciates President Bush’s actions to date which have been supportive of Israel’s security interests. Nevertheless, we do not believe that the actions of third parties should thwart the right of Israel as a sovereign state to determine its capital and to have the Embassy of the United States located there. We urge the President to undertake steps as soon as possible to demonstrate his Administration’s stated commitment to relocating the United States’ embassy to Jerusalem – the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel.

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