Beginning with the bold statement above at the 2016 AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference, then-candidate Donald Trump pledged to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.  He has repeated that promise many times, including after becoming President of the United States.

However, it has brought about a firestorm in some Middle East capitals opposed to the move.  Recently, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with King Abdullah of Jordan to cooperate in urging the US not to move the embassy to Jerusalem.

Though they indicated “the importance of coordination with the Trump administration and US Congress,” they also stated the move could have “ramifications on regional peace and security.”  Following their meeting, an official said that the intention to relocate the embassy was “a dangerous development that requires an offensive position against it.”  (Read the full story here.)

Typically an American ally in the Middle East and friendly toward the US, Jordan is now staunchly standing with other Arab nations and the Palestinian Authority in opposition to the proposed embassy move.

How will this impact the relationship between the US and Jordan?  We will have to wait and see.  While moving the embassy to Jerusalem would be a huge message that the US stands firmly with Israel, his team must work carefully through the difficult challenges.  Let’s pray for our president and his administration as they work toward an appropriate solution in successfully moving the embassy to the eternal capital of Israel…Jerusalem.