Ambassador Mike Huckabee says construction will soon begin on a permanent U.S. diplomatic complex in Israel’s capital.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that the United States will soon break ground on a permanent embassy complex in Jerusalem, marking the next stage in the American diplomatic presence in the city.
Permanent Home Planned in Jerusalem
Huckabee made the announcement Sunday during a Sukkot reception for foreign diplomats hosted by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. He said the planned complex will become the embassy’s permanent home, consolidating a U.S. presence that is currently spread among multiple facilities.
The United States has operated its embassy in Jerusalem since 2018, following President Donald Trump’s 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv.
Allenby Compound Selected
Israel and the United States signed an agreement July 1 allocating the Allenby Compound in southern Jerusalem for the permanent embassy complex after Israel approved the site earlier this year. Huckabee said the construction process could take years.
“We will soon be breaking ground on our property to begin the construction of the US embassy that will be our permanent home rather than being spread out all over the country,” Huckabee said, according to The Jerusalem Post and The Media Line.
Huckabee described the project as a long-term American commitment to Jerusalem and the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Jerusalem’s Diplomatic Presence
At the reception, Mayor Lion encouraged additional countries to establish embassies in Jerusalem. The city’s diplomatic status remains disputed internationally, and many countries continue to maintain their embassies in the Tel Aviv area.
Sources: The Jerusalem Post; The Media Line; Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs reporting on the July land-allocation agreement.
