The delegation traveled to Israel on behalf of the US President to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new US Embassy building in Jerusalem, which will mark the completion of the process of moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
On Monday, at the embassy opening ceremony, about 800 people, including Israeli and American officials and foreign diplomats from around the world, attended the ceremony at the invitation of Israel, but countries that have opposed the move, especially European countries, refused to participate.
Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law of the US President, said at the ceremony: "President Trump fulfilled another promise last week, which was to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a destabilizing factor in the Middle East."
Referring to the protests of some Palestinians, Kushner said that those who do not accept the truth today and are protesting are not the solution to the peace talks, but the problem itself. We are ready to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
President Trump's son-in-law said in part of his speech that he is the grandson of a Jewish couple who survived the Holocaust. I have a picture of them on my desk to remind me of how they were able to overcome blackness and come to America.
At the same time, on Monday, dozens of Jews living in the United States marched in Washington, D.C., criticizing the U.S. government's decision and the Israeli army's handling of Palestinian protesters in Gaza. They chanted slogans and sang songs, and blocked some streets in the capital.
According to Reuters, about 100 Jewish protesters from the "If Not Now" movement, chanting "Stop the Violence," demonstrated for about two hours on Pennsylvania Avenue - which connects the Capitol and White House buildings - and in front of the Trump Hotel.
President Trump's historic decision on Jerusalem
On December 15, Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and signed an order to begin the process of moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Every six months, U.S. presidents have signed a six-month moratorium on the 1995 Congressional Act to Move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which would have prevented the U.S. from moving the embassy to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. President Trump signed the six-month moratorium once early in his term, but announced in December that he would no longer sign it.
Donald Trump promised during his campaign last year to move the US embassy to Jerusalem if elected, reversing decades of US policy in the Middle East. He was due to make the announcement on Monday, but the White House said it had been delayed.
The US embassy move to Jerusalem coincides with Israel's Unity Day, which Israel celebrates as the anniversary of the city's capture of East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War 51 years ago.
Jerusalem is a very holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims because of its religious and historical sites, and the United Nations once proposed that it remain an international city.
In 1948, Israel took control of the West Bank and Jordan took control of the East Bank. Israel, which considers the city its eternal capital, also took control of the East Bank after the 1967 war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday praised President Trump's decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at his weekly cabinet meeting, saying: "We are fortunate this week to witness a historic event. This decision was made by the greatest power in the world, our friend the United States. President Trump promised to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and he kept his word. We will have a real celebration on this occasion tomorrow."
Palestinians have repeatedly demonstrated in protest of the US President's decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
