US to Soon Begin Construction of Permanent Embassy in Jerusalem

The United States will soon break ground on a permanent embassy complex in Jerusalem, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Sunday.

Huckabee made the announcement at a Sukkot reception for foreign diplomats in Jerusalem, saying the new complex would give the US Embassy a permanent home in the capital.

“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.

Israel and the United States signed an agreement in July allocating the Allenby Compound in southern Jerusalem for the future embassy complex. The site along Hebron Road previously housed a British military base during the Mandate period and later an Israeli Border Police station.

The US currently operates its embassy from the former American consulate building in Jerusalem’s Arnona neighborhood. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017. The United States formally moved the embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018.

The current Jerusalem facility was intended as an interim location while Washington developed plans for a permanent diplomatic compound.

US State Department planning documents have said the new complex would consolidate diplomatic operations now spread across several facilities. The project is also intended to improve security and operational efficiency.

Huckabee acknowledged Sunday that construction of the permanent embassy could take years but that the project would cement the lasting US presence in Jerusalem.

“It is our commitment as the United States of America and a partner of Israel to say that we are going to put a permanent imprint in this city,” he said.

During the July land agreement ceremony, Huckabee said the new complex would serve as the main center of US diplomatic activity in Israel.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the agreement another milestone in the US-Israel relationship and said the permanent complex would further entrench the 2017 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.