President Biden’s intention to reopen the U.S. Consulate-General in Jerusalem, which was merged into the U.S. Embassy by President Trump, is an ongoing source of tension between the U.S. administration and Naftali Bennett’s government. While Prime Minister Bennett and other prominent leaders of the coalition view reopening the consulate as an infringement on Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem, the U.S. sees it as a necessary step to serve American interests in the region. In this Israel Policy Briefing, Policy Director Michael Koplow and Policy Advisor Shira Efron unpack this controversy. They discuss its political implications both domestically in Washington, Jerusalem, and Ramallah and on U.S. relations with Israel and the PA, as well as analyze potential resolutions.
