US downgrades status of de facto Palestinian embassy

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Thursday changed the status of its consulate in Jerusalem, placing it under the authority of Washington's embassy in Jerusalem.

The consulate for years served as the de facto embassy to the Palestinians, representing the U.S. in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as matter of long-standing protocol.

By merging it with the U.S.'s Israel embassy the move could be seen as recognizing Israel's control over the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians are seeking as the capital of their future state.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it would "achieve significant efficiencies and increase our effectiveness," in announcing the decision, adding it "is driven by our global efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations. It does not signal a change of U.S. policy on Jerusalem, the West Bank, or the Gaza Strip."

"We will continue to conduct a full range of reporting, outreach, and programming in the West Bank and Gaza as well as with Palestinians in Jerusalem through a new Palestinian Affairs Unit inside U.S. Embassy Jerusalem," he said in a statement.

Palestinian officials have severed ties with the U.S. because of U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. embassy to the contested city.

Trump is preparing to roll out a long-promised Palestinian-Israeli peace plan amid the diplomatic rupture as Palestinians continue to reject any role for Washington as a mediator in potential peace talks.