CMEP Press Release about Embassy & Consulate in Jerusalem
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Condemns the Merging of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Jerusalem (Washington, D.C. – October 18, 2018)
Today the U.S. Secretary of State announced the merging of the U.S. consulate with the U.S. Embassy that is now in Jerusalem. Secretary Pompeo, in his statement remarked, “…we plan to achieve significant efficiencies and increase our effectiveness by merging U.S. Embassy Jerusalem and U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem into a single diplomatic mission.”
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemns this merger and sees it as further evidence that the two-state solution is in significant jeopardy.
CMEP supports a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that includes an end to the violence, security for all peoples, an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, the establishment of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state, and an agreement on Jerusalem that allows the city to be shared by the two peoples and three faiths.
CMEP calls on President Trump and his administration to honor his recent remarks at the United Nations on September 26, 2018 when he said the two-state solution “works best.” CMEP believes maintaining direct and distinct connections with the Palestinian community living in the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza necessitates the need for the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem.
CMEP’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon says of this recent announcement, “If the United States truly wants to be constructive brokers of peace they must stop making unilateral decisions in favor of Israel while relegating the Palestinians to an afterthought. The recent decision about the U.S. Consulate is further evidence that the two state solution is not being diligently pursued in practice.”
CMEP laments this recent decision and believes that working towards a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would not only serve the cause of peace and justice in the Holy Land but also promote peace in the Middle East region in general.