ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

NEWS RELEASE

Cong. Kustoff Thanks ZOA’s Help & Leads Bill in U.S. House to Stop U.S.-Palestinian Consulate in Jerusalem

Hey Dan (Pollak, ZOA Dir. Govt Relations),

I wanted to share with you the press release we sent out earlier today after we dropped our bill with 110 original co-sponsors!! We are very pleased with the rollout, and I cannot thank you enough for all of the help! I look forward to working with you again on this and other pro-Israel initiatives.

Have a good night!

Eliana

Eliana Goodman | Legislative Director

Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 17, 2021

CONTACT: Kate Kelly

(504) 330-8265

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (TN-08) along with House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-01), and over 100 other colleagues introduced the Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021. This legislation prohibits the use of funds for any diplomatic facility in Jerusalem other than the United States Embassy to Israel. The U.S., under the Trump Administration, fully implemented the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by officially and formally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s unequivocal capital in 2017, relocating the U.S. Embassy to Israel to its rightful place in Jerusalem in 2018, and merging the previous consulate general to the Palestinians into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in 2019.

Now, President Biden and his administration have signaled their intent to reopen a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem that would provide separate diplomatic outreach to the Palestinians. This proposal, which Israel made clear it opposes, would go against the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, and facilitate the division of Jerusalem. As such, the Biden Administration must respect Israel’s opposition and stop pursuing this misguided effort.

This legislation was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and is supported by the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), and Faith & Freedom Coalition.

“Let me be clear: Jerusalem is and will always remain the eternal capital of the State of Israel. The Biden Administration’s proposal to reopen a U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem would be inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that specifically supported Jerusalem remaining an undivided city and recognized as the capital of Israel,” said Rep. David Kustoff. “That is why I introduced the Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021. This bill is necessary to ensure the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is faithfully implemented, upheld, and preserved. I thank all my colleagues for joining me in introducing this legislation and sending a strong message that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East, Israel.”

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

2021 VIRTUAL SUPERSTAR GALA

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2021

Founded in 1897, ZOA played a key role in the Jewish State's re-establishment. Today, ZOA is the leading major American Jewish organization courageously defending Israel and the Jewish people; fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Jewish boycotts; and promoting the Jewish people's lawful right to live in and settle historic Jewish lands. ZOA exposes that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel's existence; presents the facts about the Arab/Islamic war against Israel; and combats the anti-Israel lie that Israel is an "occupier" of her own land. ZOA spearheaded long battles to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and apply civil rights protections to Jewish students. ZOA provides free legal assistance and programs to pro-Israel students at numerous college campuses. ZOA's bold, unapologetic voice has a significant impact on public discourse and policy.

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