Rabat – A leaked document from the US State Department shows that the White House is asking Israel “to temper its response” to the US recognition of Jerusalem, “as the US expects a backlash and is weighing the potential threat to US facilities and people,” according to Reuters.
“While I recognize that you will publicly welcome this news, I ask that you restrain your official response,” said the document, seen by Reuters and leaked on December 6.
The State Department said in the document that they expect that there will be “resistance to this news in the Middle East and around the world. We are still judging the impact this decision will have on US facilities and personnel overseas.”
Another document also seen by Reuters states that the US had formed an internal task force “to track worldwide developments” following President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem.
A US official who spoke anonymously to Reuters said that “it was standard to set up a task force any time there is a concern about the safety and security of US government personnel or US citizens.”
The State Department did not make any comment on the documents, said Reuters.
The document asked European officials to argue that “Trump’s decision did not prejudge so-called final status issues that Israel and the Palestinians need to hammer out in any peace agreement,” reported the news agency.
“You are in a key position to influence international reaction to this announcement and we are asking you to amplify the reality that Jerusalem is still a final status issue between Israelis and Palestinians and that the parties must resolve the dimensions of Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem during their negotiations,” it said.
“You know that this is a unique Administration. It makes bold moves. But it is bold moves that are going to be needed if peace efforts are finally going to be successful,” it added.
