US President Barack Obama has renewed a presidential waiver ordering the US Embassy in Israel to remain in Tel Aviv and not be moved to Jerusalem al-Quds, despite pressure by Congress and Israel to do so.
The outgoing president signed the waiver on Thursday, as he has every six months during his administration, in accordance with every other president over the last 20 years.
A White House statement said waiving the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which was passed by Congress in 1995, was necessary “to protect the national security interests of the United States.”
The law, which has never been implemented, was passed for the purposes of initiating and funding the relocation of the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.
US President-elect Donald Trump vowed during his presidential campaign that he would move the US Embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds, a step that would enrage Palestinians and create an international furor.
Former US Presidents Bill…