WASHINGTON, DC – The national security subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee held a congressional hearing Wednesday, chaired by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), with testimony about whether the United States should move its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The hearing featured testimony from former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, former Israel Ambassador Dore Gold, President of the Zionist Organization of America Morton Klein, professor of international law at Northwestern University Eugene Kontorovich, and the Israel Policy Forum’s policy director, Michael J. Koplow.
Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin and his wife were also present for the hearing.
“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for thousands of years and is the beating heart of modern Israel,” DeSantis said.
He noted:
Israel’s stewardship of Jerusalem’s holy sites has been tremendous, especially regarding religious freedom. During the Arab occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem (between 1949-1967), Jews were systematically discriminated against, and Christians were treated as second-class citizens. Most of the Old City synagogues were destroyed or desecrated.
He pointed out that, conversely, “under Israeli sovereignty, religious freedom is the rule and the Holy Sites – Christian, Jewish, and Muslim – are treated with care and respect. The disrepair that plagued Jerusalem under Arab occupation has given way to a flourishing city that is one of the world’s crown jewels.” He added, “Following the commitment to move the embassy will demonstrate American leadership.” READ MORE
