LOC20:57
17:57 GMT
WASHINGTON, May 11 (KUNA) -- The US said on Friday that the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem was a US decision, and was made because "it was viewed to be in the best interest of the US."
Speaking to reporters via teleconference, a senior administration official reiterated that "the Israelis are obviously desirous of this and they've requested this and they're very happy by it, but the decision was made because it was viewed to be in the best interest of the United States and something the president (Donald Trump) had promised during the campaign and something that the United States felt was in its best interest."
The official, speaking on background, added that "there was no give-and-take with Israel with regard to this decision."
The official stressed that "there are people who are happy with the decision. There are people who are unhappy with the decision. I think it's far too early to be measuring reactions.
"In the long run, we're convinced that this decision creates an opportunity and a platform to proceed with a peace process on the basis of realities, rather than fantasies. And we're fairly optimistic that this decision will ultimately create greater stability, rather than less," the official noted.
The official believes that "the peace process is going to go forward, my own experience in discussions with many different Palestinians is that there remains a significant interest for peace, for a better life, for better education, better roads and hospitals and all the things that could be made available in this region if there was more peace and less violence."
On Monday, Trump announced that Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will lead the presidential delegation to Israel to attend the opening next Monday of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. (end)
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