عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

US Postpones Opening its Consulate in Jerusalem

A man walks next to a road sign directing to the US embassy in Jerusalem, February 18, 2019. (Reuters)
A man walks next to a road sign directing to the US embassy in Jerusalem, February 18, 2019. (Reuters)
TT
TT

US Postpones Opening its Consulate in Jerusalem

A man walks next to a road sign directing to the US embassy in Jerusalem, February 18, 2019. (Reuters)
A man walks next to a road sign directing to the US embassy in Jerusalem, February 18, 2019. (Reuters)

The Israeli government asked the US administration to hold off plans to reopen its consulate in Jerusalem, claiming that such a measure would create “political difficulties” for the new government, according to officials in Tel Aviv.

Walla website quoted the officials as saying that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently asked Washington to delay reopening the consulate, saying that opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is using the issue to portray the government as weak and unable to stand up to the Biden administration.

The US administration had announced its intention to reopen the consulate in Jerusalem, as a diplomatic representative specialized in dealing with the Palestinians, in reference to the change of policy of former President Donald Trump.

Trump closed the consulate in 2019, as part of punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority for rejecting the deal of the century.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced during his visit to Israel last May, prior to the formation of the new Israeli government, that the US administration would reopen the consulate in Jerusalem.

According to Walla, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Washington to wait until at least after the summer to give the new government more time to stabilize.

Israeli officials believe the Biden administration understands the complexity of the situation and agreed to the request and will refrain from pressing it for the time being.

At the time, Netanyahu had requested during his meeting with Blinken, the reopening of the US Consulate in Ramallah or Abu Dis.

Blinken rejected Netanyahu's request and made clear that the administration wants the consulate to be in Jerusalem.

The former PM told Blinken that he intended to make political use of the case, noting that “if you insist on opening the consulate in Jerusalem, you are going to help me score political win.”

During a meeting of the Likud party parliamentary bloc early last month, Netanyahu said that "the dangerous left-wing government will not withstand the decision to re-establish an American consulate for the Palestinians in the heart of Jerusalem."

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Lebanon Decides to Extradite Al-Qaradawi to the UAE

 Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi (X)
 Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi (X)
TT
TT

Lebanon Decides to Extradite Al-Qaradawi to the UAE

 Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi (X)
 Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi (X)

The Lebanese government has decided to extradite Egyptian activist Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi, son of the late cleric Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following an extradition request from Emirati authorities.
The decision is based on an arrest warrant issued by the Arab Interior Ministers Council due to a video recorded by Al-Qaradawi during a visit to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, in which he criticized several Arab countries.
The decision came shortly after Lebanese Justice Minister Henry Khoury submitted a decree to the Council of Ministers authorizing the extradition. According to sources, Türkiye, which had warned Lebanon against handing over Al-Qaradawi, requested prior assurances before his extradition. However, it is believed this decision will not lead to a political or diplomatic crisis between Beirut and Ankara.
The move has raised questions about why Lebanon agreed to extradite the activist to the UAE, despite the absence of a judicial agreement for exchanging wanted individuals between the two nations.
A government source clarified that the decision was based on the arrest warrant issued by the Arab Interior Ministers Council, which Lebanon is obligated to honor as a member of the council and a signatory to its agreements. The source also confirmed that Lebanon’s General Security Directorate will coordinate with Emirati authorities to finalize the extradition schedule.
The swift response to the Emirati request is noteworthy. Al-Qaradawi was detained upon arriving in Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing from Syria on December 29, 2024, in accordance with an Interpol red notice. The notice was based on a five-year prison sentence handed down in absentia by Egyptian courts, which convicted him of charges including “spreading false news, inciting violence and terrorism, and encouraging regime change.”
Efforts by Al-Qaradawi’s family and activists to prevent his extradition to Egypt or the UAE have been unsuccessful. On Tuesday, dozens of protesters, including religious figures from Lebanese Islamic organizations, gathered outside Beirut’s Palace of Justice demanding that he not be extradited and calling for his transfer to Türkiye, where he resides. They warned that they would take legal action against the Lebanese government in international courts if the extradition proceeds.
Al-Qaradawi’s lawyer, Hala Hamza, argued that her client is being held based on a request from Egypt and another from the UAE tied to a now-removed video he posted in Syria. She stated: “There is no legal basis for the UAE’s extradition request,” describing the decision as violating international human rights agreements.
On Sunday, Al-Qaradawi’s family sent an official letter to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urging his immediate intervention to secure the man’s release.