WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after President Trump issued a proclamation recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“I applaud President Trump’s proclamation and join him in recognizing that both throughout history and today, Jerusalem is the true capital of Israel,” Sen. Lee said. “The President has also been bold in directing that the State Department expeditiously begin to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the international custom of having official diplomatic representation in national capitals around the globe.

“While a new location is being selected for the US Embassy, the US government will continue to serve American citizens in the region and Palestinians through our consulate in Jerusalem, just as it has done for decades since the US presence in Jerusalem was established as a consulate in 1928.

"We continue to hope for peace and longtime stability between Israelis and Palestinians, but the US can no longer wait to do the right thing in recognizing the nation’s rightful capital.”