Jewish Groups Welcome Assurances That Aid Will Not Open Jerusalem Office

Jewish groups and members of Congress have welcomed assurances from the Agency for International Development that it will not locate an office to dispense aid to Palestinians from eastern Jerusalem.

In a June 24 meeting, AID Administrator Brian Atwood told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee that eastern Jerusalem was not being considered as a site from which to distribute U.S. funds.

The State Department agency is responsible for dispensing up to $78 million for infrastructure and other developmental assistance to the newly autonomous Gaza Strip and Jericho district.

“Since the final status of Jerusalem is being left until the end of the negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians, “anything that might prejudice Jerusalem would not be beneficial,” Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said in a telephone interview.

In last week’s meeting, Engel told Atwood that “any expansion of AID activities in east Jerusalem would be unacceptable.”

Atwood’s pledge not to open an office in eastern Jerusalem came only days after members of Congress and Jewish groups had mobilized to against the possibility. Widespread rumors that the agency was considering such a move had circulated around Washington in recent weeks.

Neal Sher, executive director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, praised Atwood’s pledge, calling it “the right policy.

“No action should be taken that would have an adverse impact on Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s undivided capital and we will continue to work with Congress and the administration to ensure that any future actions adhere to this principle,” Sher said.

“Atwood has acknowledged concerns raised about the dangers of opening an AID office in east Jerusalem, and has provided assurances that east Jerusalem is not under consideration for an office,” said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Foxman said he was “pleased” with Atwood’s pledge.

Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.) said, “Atwood has assured us that AID has no plans to open an office in east Jerusalem. Doing so would have prejudged the status of the city, which is Israel’s national capital.”