US plans to open Jerusalem embassy in May this year

The United States has said, it will open its embassy in Jerusalem in May this year, that will coincide with Israel's 70th Independence Day. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, the embassy will initially be located in the Arnona neighbourhood, in a building that now houses consular operations of US Consulate



General Jerusalem. The consular operations, including American citizen and visa services, will continue at the Arnona facility without interruption, as part of the Embassy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed the US announcement as a great day for the people of Israel.