The Reagan Administration refused flatly to say today it considers Jerusalem the capital of Israel. When asked what the U.S. considers Israel’s capital, State Dept. spokesman John Hughes replied: “The government of Israel maintains Jerusalem the capital. We maintain our Embassy in Tel Aviv.”
Hughes refused to elaborate, except to say the U.S. position on Israel is clear. The Administration argues that the future of Jerusalem must be left to a negotiated settlement on the West Bank and Gaza and because of this it has opposed the move in Congress to have the Embassy relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Secretary of State George Shultz said on NBC-TV “Meet the Press” program yesterday that even if Congress passed a bill requiring the Embassy’s relocation, President Reagan would not move the Embassy.
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