Kaine Statement On Trump Announcement On Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today following President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem:

“Meaningful progress towards an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal has been stalled for years. While I hope that dynamic will change, I am very concerned that President Trump's announcement will further s‎et back efforts to achieve a two-state solution. I support ‎the longstanding U.S. policy that Jerusalem's permanent status needs to be decided by the parties in final peace negotiations.

The reaction we see across the world is troubling, including from important allies of Israel, and suggests that this announcement could have destabilizing consequences for a region already rife with tensions. I am worried about the impact of this decision on the safety of U.S. personnel overseas and have raised my concerns with the State Department to ensure sufficient security measures are in place at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates.”

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