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DetDeterminationObama · D

Presidential Determination

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act

President Obama suspended for six months the spending limitations in the Jerusalem Embassy Act that would have restricted funding for U.S. diplomatic facilities in Jerusalem, citing national security interests. The Secretary of State was directed to transmit this determination and an accompanying report to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 33489

Impact dates

  1. Six-month suspension period expires

  2. Suspension takes effect after transmission to Congress

Key directives

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

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Suspension takes effect upon transmission to Congress
  • Secretary of State directed to transmit to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

  • Six-month suspension period runs through approximately December 2, 2010

Long term

  • Potential repeated suspensions under Act's framework (as occurred historically)
  • Ongoing U.S. policy ambiguity on Jerusalem embassy location

Risks & tensions

  • Recurring suspension pattern since 1995 suggests structural tension between congressional mandate and executive branch national security assessments
  • Jerusalem status remains politically sensitive in Israeli-Palestinian conflict context
  • Document does not specify exact transmission date to Congress, creating minor ambiguity on effective date
Presidential Determination: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act · Executive Orders