US conservatives criticise Palestinian mission upgrade in Jerusalem

Several conservatives in the US are speaking out about the Biden administration's plans to upgrade its Palestinian mission, after three years of downgraded consular services under the previous administration of Donald Trump. 

In an effort to begin returning to full consular service for Palestinians in Jerusalem, following the East Jerusalem consulate’s closure in 2019 under former President Trump, President Joe Biden's administration is upgrading the mission to the US Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA), to be redesignated from the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU).

Biden has long planned to upgrade consular services for Palestinians in Jerusalem, a promise he made at the beginning of his term, in addition to resuming ties with the Palestinian authority, due to former President Donald Trump's closure of the Palestinian consulate in East Jerusalem in 2019.

This is considered an incremental step that would, in theory, eventually lead to the reopening of the of the consulate in Jerusalem.

Last week, a group of right-leaning lawmakers signed a letter condemning the move, raising concerns about it undermining the US recognition of Israel as Israel's undivided capital.

"It is alarming that the Biden Administration has opened what amounts to be a separate U.S. diplomatic office to the Palestinians in Israel's capital. This decision is wholly inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that Congress passed into law and has repeatedly reaffirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support over the years," reads the letter, led by Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Congressman Zeldin of New York, which was published by Jewish Insider.

In addition to the letter from lawmakers, the Biden administration also has to contend with Israel, where Biden will be visiting on a trip to the region next month. The Israeli government has said that it would not accept the reinstatement of a Palestinian consulate, suggesting instead a relocation to Ramallah.

The Palestinian government has rejected any alternative to having a consulate in Jerusalem.

Given the political pressures, this temporary upgrade may be the only solution for the foreseeable future.