WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (MNN); The United States and Israel have signed a landmark agreement under which Washington will lease land in West Jerusalem for 99 years at a symbolic cost of one US dollar to construct a permanent American embassy complex, further strengthening diplomatic ties between the two allies.
The agreement was signed by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar during a ceremony attended by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. The site allocated for the embassy is part of the Allenby Complex in Jerusalem.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Huckabee held up a one-dollar bill, saying it represented the full payment the United States would make under the 99-year lease agreement.
He said the permanent embassy project reflected Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and underscored the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.
The United States relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term, following his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Since then, the embassy has operated from a temporary facility while plans for a permanent diplomatic compound moved forward.
Israeli officials described the agreement as the completion of a major diplomatic initiative launched during Trump’s first presidency.
However, the move has drawn criticism from Palestinians and others who argue it further undermines prospects for a negotiated two-state solution, as Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state.
According to reports, the land designated for the embassy had previously been owned by Palestinians before coming under Israeli control, a point that has added to the controversy surrounding the project.
The agreement marks another significant step in the expanding US-Israel strategic relationship amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts across the Middle East.
