The U.S. Administration’s declared intention to reopen its Jerusalem consulate as a representative body to the Palestinian leadership and to provide consular services to the population of the disputed territories is becoming a growing, political stumbling block in the relationship between Israel and the United States.

As currently considered, establishing a consulate would be incompatible with U.S. policy and American international law commitments. It would also undermine U.S. commitments and proclamations.

If Israel formally refused to give its consent to the decision to open the consulate and the Biden administration went ahead with its implementation, nonetheless, it would put the United States in a position of flagrant violation of the relevant international convention dealing with consular relations between states.