The red tape that could have delayed the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem was cut on Tuesday, when the National Planning and Construction Council authorized plans to build a wall and escape route from the structure chosen, when the embassy moves from Tel Aviv.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon exercised his rarely used authority to fast-track the process, so that the embassy will be able to move to Jerusalem – in part – in May, in conjunction with the celebrations of the state’s 70th year.Kahlon – who tweeted his plan to President Donald Trump last week – plans in the coming days to sign onto the council’s decision to exempt the construction on the US-government owned Diplomat Hotel from going through the Jerusalem Municipality’s bureaucratic process.“As we promised, we won’t let unnecessary bureaucracy delay moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem, Israel’s eternal capital,” Kahlon said. “This is a diplomatic, strategic move for Israel, and the planning bodies that I head will do all that is necessary to fit the schedule. As Finance minister of the State of Israel, I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of this historic move.”