Clinton once again blocks move of US embassy to Jerusalem
US President Bill Clinton on Saturday once again blocked a U.S. congressional directive to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Clinton notified Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and advised leaders of the U.S. Congress that he was extending an administrative ban for another six months on the controversial diplomatic action "to protect the national security interests of the United States" in the Middle East.
The U.S. Congress passed a law authorizing the embassy's relocation (Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995), but left an opening for the White House to put off the move at its discretion.
Clinton administration officials have emphasized that the future of Jerusalem was reserved for final status talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
Relocating the embassy at this time would be considered an unwelcome unilateral decision.
Assistant secretary of state Martin Indyk, who previously was the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, is returning to that post in January.