US delegation arrived Sunday
The American delegation touched down Sunday afternoon, and following a reception with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, dined at the prime minister's house.
Earlier in the evening, in front of a very friendly and very enthusiastic crowd, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heaped praise on President Trump.
\"Thank you, President Trump, for your bold decision,\" Netanyahu said. \"Thank you for making the alliance between Israel and the United States stronger than ever.
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Abir Sultan/EPA/REX via Shutterstock
PHOTO: A sign and flags appear on a bridge nearby the US consulate that will act as the new US embassy in the Jewish neighborhood of Arnona, May 13, 2018.
\"Now, you know how you recognize real leadership? It’s when others follow, and others are following in President Trump’s footsteps,\" he said, telling the crowd that Guatemala and Paraguay would both move their embassies later this week.
He hinted at others, quipping: \"That’s a state secret, and we don’t reveal our state secrets. Sometimes we reveal other’s state secrets. We’ll let you know as time comes.\"
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Gali Tibbon/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the official reception of the opening of the US Embassy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, May 13, 2018.
The actual building is currently used for American consular services, including passport renewals, and visa and immigration services.
It’s located in the Jewish residential neighborhood of Arnona -- in part in no man’s land between East and West Jerusalem -- but it’s not a fortress, like the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. It's also not a beautiful old Ottoman-era building like the current U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, which is located closer to the Old City.
Friedman, who has been a loud supporter of this move from day one, has also been clear that he considers the embassy in \"Jerusalem, Israel,\" making no distinction between Palestinian-majority east and Israeli-majority west.
Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. But for many Palestinians, failing to make the distinction all but ignores the existence of Palestinians.
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Abir Sultan/EPA via Shutterstock
PHOTO: White House senior advisers Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrive for the opening ceremony at the U.S. consulate that will act as the new embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, May 14, 2018.
\"It takes away the hopes in having Jerusalem or parts of Jerusalem as the future capital of Palestine if a deal is to be struck between Palestinians and Israelis,\" Jerusalem resident, Ahmad Muna, 28, said Sunday.
He added: \"When Trump announced the move, he didn't mention Palestinians and didn't mention east or west Jerusalem. ... They've given all the claim, all the rights, of all the parts to the Israelis,\" Muna said, adding that he no longer believes the U.S. is interested in peace.
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Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
PHOTO: A worker is seen inside the new U.S. embassy compound during preparations for its opening ceremony, in Jerusalem, May 13, 2018.
U.S. officials insist they are, but no American member of the delegation will meet with Palestinians on this trip. When Trump announced the move, he said his decision marked \"the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.\"
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Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
PHOTO: A bus decorated with Israeli and U.S. flags and a message welcoming the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem is seen near the location of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, May 13, 2018.
Einat Wilf, a former Israeli parliament member who supports the two-state solution, told reporters Sunday that for Israelis, the embassy opening doesn't change all that much.
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Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: An Israeli man wears the US national flag at Damascus gate in Jerusalem on May 13, 2018, as Israeli nationalist settlers celebrate the Jerusalem Day in the Old City.
\"Israelis have been living for 70 years with the knowledge that the western part of the city is their capital,\" she said.
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Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: Israeli motorcycle club, Samson Riders, lead a convoy of Harley Davidson riders in the streets of Jerusalem, May 13, 2018, as they ride from the current location of the American embassy in Tel Aviv towards the new location in Jerusalem.
\"So, yes, Israelis welcome recognizing reality. ... It's not as if this changes reality, but it is important to have an international acknowledgment.\"
Plus, Israelis were rather busy this weekend with the biggest news in the country: their Eurovision win. And now it's rumored that 25-year-old winner, Netta Barzilai, may just be a guest of honor at today's ceremony.
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Abir Sultan/EPA/REX via Shutterstock
PHOTO: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner attend a reception ceremony for the US delegation ahead of the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem, May 13, 2018.
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Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
PHOTO: Military personnel patrol next to a sign welcoming the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, near the location of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, May 13, 2018.
