US to Begin Construction of Permanent Embassy Complex in Jerusalem

The United States is set to begin construction of its permanent embassy complex in Jerusalem, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The announcement was made on Sunday during a reception for the Sukkot holiday hosted by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, attended by dozens of foreign diplomats.

Since the U.S. embassy's relocation to Jerusalem in 2018, its operations have been spread across multiple sites. The new permanent complex aims to consolidate these activities into a single, lasting location. An agreement signed on July 1st between Israel and the U.S. designated the Allenby complex in southern Jerusalem for the project, following Israeli authorities' approval in March.

Huckabee acknowledged that the full realization of the project could take several years but emphasized it signifies a lasting American commitment to Jerusalem. He also stated that the permanent establishment would make any future decision to relocate the embassy significantly more difficult.

The initiative follows former President Donald Trump's 2017 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, leading to the embassy's official move from Tel Aviv in May 2018.

During the same event, Mayor Lion urged more countries to establish their embassies in Jerusalem, noting that nine nations currently have diplomatic representation there, with Colombia expected to be the tenth.