The U.S. government has rejected Israel’s application to open a new Consulate-General in Denver, Colo. The refusal is an embarrassment because the Cabinet approved the appointment of veteran diplomat Yaacov Morris to be Consul General four months ago and preparations have been going on to establish the Israel Mission.
The U.S. decision was justified by the State Department on the grounds that Denver is close to sensitive military installations. If Israel opens a Consulate there, less desirable foreign missions might seek to follow suit and the American authorities do not wish to encourage this development, the State Department explained.
Israel is understood to have appealed the initial rejection, but the appeal, too, was turned down. Foreign Ministry sources here said the U.S. has suggested alternative sites in the Middle West but Israel so far has not accepted them because none has a large flourishing Jewish community such as is found in Denver. An important part of Denver Consulate’s work would have focussed on the Jewish community.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
