"How many readers of The New York Times know about the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995? This law, calling for the relocation of the United States Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, asserted that Jerusalem was to remain an undivided city and official capital of the state of Israel. It was adopted by the Senate 93-5 and by the House 374-37. Although it has never been implemented by our country, whose executive branch considers it an infringement by Congress on its authority to conduct foreign policy, it has also never been repealed and remains in place representing the overwhelming majority of members of both Houses and their constituents. This is significant in light of the recent brouhaha concerning the so called “settlements” in Jerusalem. Israel has no confusion over the status of its indivisible capital and therefore, doesn’t need to ask American permission to build housing for its citizens there. America should have no confusion either given the wording of the 1995 Law and the fact that though dormant, it still remains intact. This piece of old news has been omitted in accounts of American expectations of Israel’s ten-month moratorium on building in west bank settlements."
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