Finance minister eases procedures for moving U.S. embassy to Jerusalem
Moshe Kahlon informed US President Donald Trump of his plans in a tweet.
By UDI SHAHAMUpdated: MARCH 22, 2018 02:35FINANCE MINISTER Moshe Kahlon speaks at an event in Ofakim.(photo credit: REUTERS)
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon ordered the National Council for Planning and Construction on Wednesday to immediately assemble in order to take steps that would enable the US Embassy to move to Jerusalem as soon as possible.To streamline the process of moving the embassy to the capital, Kahlon (Kulanu) ordered the council to exempt the Americans from approvals that would normally be required.While signing the order, Kahlon said: “I am grateful for the opportunity I was given as the finance minister and as the official in charge of [national infrastructure] planning in the State of Israel to advance the move of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, our eternal capital,” he said.“In order to do so, I ordered the National Council for Planning and Construction to act according to article 266.5 in the Planning and Construction Law to waive the need for formal approval to lay down the infrastructures necessary for the embassy’s activities,” he added.The finance minister informed US President Donald Trump of his plans in a tweet.
President @realDonaldTrump , I'm happy to inform you that we are moving forward with the preparations, making sure that no bureaucracy slows down the process of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Last month the US State Department announced that it would officially move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14.This announcement followed a declaration made by US President Donald Trump in December in which he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
