Netanyahu's Reaction to US Secretary of State's Comments on Embassy Move to Jerusalem

In response to the US Secretary of State's remarks regarding the impact of the Middle East peace process on the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that this embassy move to Jerusalem 'advances the peace process.' Hours before Netanyahu's comments, Rex Tillerson had said in an interview with NBC that the US President is still evaluating the effects of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Tillerson added that the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement plays a role in the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. These statements from the Prime Minister and the US Secretary of State come as Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is set to visit Israel in eight days. Trump will arrive in Israel on Monday, June 1, after a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia. According to Ynet, Netanyahu also responded to Rex Tillerson by stating that 'the embassy move is not harmful to peace; on the contrary, it helps peace and rectifies a historical injustice.' Netanyahu further stated that 'the embassy move eliminates the illusion of the Palestinians who claim that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel.' During last year's presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem upon entering the White House. A US congressional resolution from 1995 has called for the US embassy in Israel to be moved to Jerusalem. However, during Bill Clinton's presidency, when the resolution was passed, its implementation was suspended every six months by the signatures of Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama. King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, have warned Trump in recent months about the consequences of moving the embassy to Jerusalem during their meetings at the White House. Arab League leaders have also advised the US government against considering the embassy move to Jerusalem, as it would lead to renewed regional crises. Three months ago, during a meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, Trump asked him to 'hold back a bit' on construction in disputed territories with the Palestinians to give peace a chance. However, following Mahmoud Abbas's meeting with Trump three weeks ago, Israel's Housing Minister announced plans for the construction of 25,000 more homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which angered the Palestinians. Meanwhile, according to reports, National Security Advisor General Herbert McMaster stated that Trump will emphasize the need to respect the Palestinians' will for independence during his visit to the region.