ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationClinton · D

Presidential Determination

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President Clinton issued a determination suspending for six months the limitations in the Jerusalem Embassy Act that would have required moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and restricted State Department spending. The suspension was justified on national security grounds and required transmission to Congress with a report and Federal Register publication.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 225

Impact dates

  1. Suspension takes effect after transmission to Congress

  2. 6-month suspension period expires

Key directives

  • Suspend limitations in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of Jerusalem Embassy Act for 6 months
  • Transmit determination to Congress with report under section 7(a)
  • Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Suspension takes effect after transmission to Congress
  • Determination and report to be transmitted to Congress
  • Federal Register publication

Near term (90d)

  • 6-month suspension period runs

Long term

  • Potential repeated suspensions under Act's framework
  • Ongoing embassy location policy unresolved

Risks & tensions

  • Recurring 6-month suspensions create policy uncertainty on embassy location
  • Balances congressional mandate against executive national security prerogatives
  • Sensitive diplomatic timing in Israeli-Palestinian peace process context (late Clinton administration)
Presidential Determination: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act · Executive Orders