FOREIGN POLICY/ISRAEL: “President Trump signed an order keeping the American Embassy in Tel Aviv rather than move it to Jerusalem as he promised during last year’s campaign, aides said Thursday, disappointing many Israel supporters in hopes of preserving his chances of negotiating a peace settlement.
Aides said the decision was just a delay and that he still plans to eventually move the embassy to Jerusalem when conditions are right, although past presidents have said the same without ever acting. The White House said in a statement that Mr. Trump’s move should not be considered ‘a retreat from the president’s strong support for Israel’ and its alliance with the United States.
‘President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interest,’ the statement said. ‘But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that happens, but only when.’ “
-Peter Baker, “Trump Opts Not to Move Embassy to Jerusalem, at Least for Now,” The New York Times online, June 1, 2017