The United States is to merge its consulate general in Jerusalem, which deals with Palestinian affairs, with its new embassy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, the decision was made for efficiency reasons and did not signal a change of policy on Jerusalem, the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Palestinians condemned the move.

Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem – occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war – as the capital of a future Palestinian state.According to BBC, the closure of the consulate general means that Palestinian affairs will now come under the direction of the US ambassador to Israel.