Yerushalayim's Mayor Says He Won't Shun US Consulate

Jerusalem's mayor, Moshe Lion, dismissed speculation that a US consulate for Palestinians would be denied municipal services on Tuesday. 

When asked on Israel's Army Radio whether the municipality would consider cutting off water or power to a Palestinian consulate, Lion said, "No way ... There is no such intention."

"Wherever the municipality has to provide services, it will provide services," he said, according to Reuters. "One has to provide this by law, and there is no reason not to do so."

Lion also stated that Washington's plan to reverse the Trump administration's incorporation of the consulate into the US Embassy didn't appear to be close to implementation. 

"I very much hope that the diplomatic officials, the government of Israel, will prevent the establishment of this consulate," Lion said. "I think that is what is happening right now. I don't think we are on a very high stand-by for this (consulate) getting built."

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration intends to go forward with its plan to reopen the Jerusalem consulate, despite Israeli opposition.