New petition growing by the moment; Prominent faith leaders to travel to Washington, DC tomorrow to echo their congregants demand in-person
Washington, D.C., May 22 – In response to reports that President Trump may not fulfill his campaign promise and would keep the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv for at least another six months, a petition is circulating that calls on the President to keep his pledge and move the Embassy to its rightful place, Jerusalem. The petition, launched just days ago by Israel Allies Foundation and supported by numerous Christian and Jewish organizations and religious leaders, has already garnered more than 700 signatures and is growing by the moment.
“In light of recent news reports, we ask that you keep the promise you repeatedly made throughout your campaign: recognize Jerusalem as the indivisible capital of the State of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy there. It is time that the United States fulfill the promise it made in 1995 with the Jerusalem Embassy Act. Your leadership on this issue will certainly inspire additional countries to move their Embassy to Jerusalem as well. The location of our Embassy has no bearing upon the prospects of peace. Let us also remember that we must not pander to the threats of terror groups. Now is the time to keep faithful to our allies in deed and in word, to reflect the overwhelming will of the American people, of Congress and of your own campaign – move our Embassy to its rightful location in honor of 50 years of a united Jerusalem,” wrote the petitioners, many of whom voted for President Trump because of his vow to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s rightful capital, and hoped he would announce the move this week during his first presidential trip to Israel.
To further emphasize the petitioners’ call, dozens of Christian and Jewish leaders will appear in Washington, D.C. tomorrow to echo their congregants’ demands to the White House. The faith leaders will hold meetings throughout the day and then join members of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus at a press conference, publicly calling for the Administration to fulfill its vow.
In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which calls on the U.S. to move the embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as Israel’s capital. During the campaign, President Trump committed that, unlike previous presidents who have repeatedly signed six-month waivers delaying the move, he would move the embassy. Since President Obama signed a waiver in December, President Trump has a June 1 deadline to decide between another waiver or an embassy move.
Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Brad Sherman (D-CA); Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Tzedek; Susan Michael, U.S. director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and coordinator of the American Christian Leaders for Israel Network; Jerry A. Johnson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters; Star Parker, president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education; and Daniel Williams, executive director of the Israel Allies Foundation, as well as other religious leaders will speak at the press conference. The press conference will culminate in a celebration organized by the Israel Allies Foundation in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.
Last week, 60 of the nation’s most influential Evangelical leaders wrote in a letter to President Trump, “Many of our constituents cast their vote for you due to this commitment. Now we ask you to send a message early in your administration that the United States will indeed honor its strongest and only true democratic ally in the Middle East by respecting its capital city – Jerusalem – and immediately moving the U.S. Embassy there. Implementation of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act should not be delayed nor made contingent on any future peace agreements.” The letter, organized by the American Christian Leaders for Israel network, was signed by, among others, all of the Christian leaders who will speak at the press conference, Dr. John Hagee, Gordon Robertson, Tony Perkins, Dr. James Dobson and Dr. Charles Stanley.
Since its founding in 2007, Israel Allies Foundation has worked closely with elected officials in the U.S., Canada, dozens of European governments, as well as the European Parliament, numerous African countries and across Latin America to educate legislators about the importance of an indivisible Jerusalem and the significance of Jerusalem as Israel’s recognized capital. A significant part of this education has included urging international and U.S. legislators to move their embassies to Jerusalem. Since 2011, the IAF has hosted an annual commemoration of Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill and in Europe. IAF also coordinates an annual conference in Jerusalem where more than 100 Members of Parliament have been educated on the status of Jerusalem – its indivisibility, geo-political importance and history. In addition, IAF has hosted multiple Latin America-Israel Summits on Jerusalem. After IAF launched an Israel caucus in Costa Rica, more than a third of the Costa Rican Parliament signed onto a document declaring their support for moving the Costa Rican Embassy to Jerusalem. IAF regularly partners with Christian groups across the country to educate members and mobilize grassroots support for a unified Jerusalem.
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The Israel Allies Foundation works with Congress and parliaments around the world to mobilize political support for Israel based on Judeo-Christian values.