Ambassador Haley: Western Wall is part of Israel

Haley restated her support for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and stated clearly that “the Western Wall is part of Israel.”

US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Nikki Haley made it clear that in her opinion, the Western Wall in Jerusalem belongs to Israel.

In an interview with CBN‘s The Brody File on Tuesday, Haley was emphatic on the issue, stating,  “I don’t know what the policy of the administration is, but I believe the Western Wall is part of Israel and I think that that is how we’ve always seen it and that’s how we should pursue it…we’ve always thought the Western Wall was part of Israel.”

The statement was made as US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster would not clarify this issue, saying it was a “policy decision,” and amid a report that a US consulate official told Israeli officials that the Western Wall is not theirs.

In Washington, after being pressed on the matter, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stuck with ambiguity.

“The Western Wall is obviously one of the holiest sites in Jewish faith. It’s clearly in Jerusalem,” he told reporters during the daily briefing.

“It’s an issue that’s had serious consideration. It will be a topic that’s going to be discussed during the President’s trip between the parties that he meets with. I think this stems from a comment that was made yesterday and which was not the policy of the United States,” Spicer said.

Consistent Policies

During the interview, Haley restated her support for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“The capital should be Jerusalem and the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem, because [Israel’s] government is in Jerusalem. So much of what goes on is in Jerusalem. We have to see that for what it is. The tricky part is where the Palestinians come in on this and where the Israelis comes in on this,” Haley said.

“We know the Israelis do not want to give on Jerusalem at all and we have to see how strong the Palestinians stand on that. That is your touchy part. Is Jerusalem even on the table? I don’t know that it is.”

Haley has remained consistent with her support on such a crucial move.

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in January, she declared that she “absolutely” backs the embassy move because that’s what Israel and congressional Republicans want.

While President Donald Trump repeatedly stated his support for the embassy move on the campaign trail and after his election victory, as time passes many in Israel are losing faith that such a move will actually happen.

All US presidents since 1995 have availed themselves of a provision in the law allowing the president to delay the move by signing a waiver affirming that in his judgment, the move would harm America’s national security interests. The waiver must be signed every six months, and was last signed by Barack Obama in October. Trump’s visit to Israel next week is shortly before he would be due to sign it at the beginning of June.

While a recent news report surfaced that Trump has decided not to move the embassy to Jerusalem, the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office have both denied the report, and Jerusalem is waiting anxiously for a final decision on the issue.

“One thing about Nikki Haley – is she’s a straight shooter. Very refreshing,” the CBN interviewer said of his session with her.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

H.R. McMasterJerusalemNikki HaleySean SpicerUS embassyWestern Wall