David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, said Monday that moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem was not intended to provoke Palestinians.
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The new embassy in Jerusalem opened on Monday and was met with deadly protests and riots in Gaza by angry Palestinians. (RELATED: Trump Hits Past Presidents During Opening Ceremony Of US Embassy In Jerusalem)
Friedman said that the U.S. moved the embassy in order to recognize the “truth” that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel rather than to “provoke” Palestinians.
“We’ll be doing it from a position of facts, a position of truth, a position of reality,” Friedman said of negotiations in the peace process. “And no longer this fantasy that somehow Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel.”
“The Palestinians should understand, this was not intended to provoke them, it was intended to recognize Israel’s rights,” he added. “You know, we didn’t think the Palestinians should prevent Israel from having its capital recognized. It’s only been 3,000 years, right?”