US and Israel Sign Permanent Jerusalem Embassy Site Deal

Israel and the United States signed the land-allocation agreement for the permanent U.S. Embassy compound at Jerusalem's Allenby Complex, moving President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem and the 2018 embassy relocation into a durable capital-city footprint. Times of Israel, JNS, i24, Ynet and Hebrew reports place Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion at the Foreign Ministry ceremony; Ynet says Huckabee described a 99-year lease for $1. Sa'ar called Israel America's most important strategic asset in the Middle East, and Huckabee said Washington is planting its flag permanently in Jerusalem. The ceremony strengthens Jerusalem's standing as Israel's capital and answers enemies who deny Jewish history.