Refusing to recognize the ancient historical capital of Israel, and the seat of its government, as its capital, has been absurd, petty and childish. It was a bureaucratic version of the hostile news stories from the USSR which insisted on referring to the Israeli center of government as Tel Aviv. Aside from the misplaced embassy (the equivalent of countries insisting that their embassies will be in Los Angeles instead of D.C.) the boycott proved a major inconvenience to those Americans who were born in Jerusalem, but whose birthplace can't be recognized because of this official boycott.
Republican presidential candidates, including Bush, promised to move the embassy, but then reneged on their word. Now Kellyanne Conway has signaled that Trump will actually do it.
Moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem will be a major focus for Donald Trump, senior aide Kellyanne Conway said on Monday.
"That is very big priority for this president-elect, Donald Trump," Conway told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on his Monday morning show. "He made it very clear during the campaign, Hugh, and as president-elect I've heard him repeat it several times privately, if not publicly.”
But Conway questioned why such a policy shift has not already occurred.
“It is something that our friend in Israel, a great friend in the Middle East, would appreciate and something that a lot of Jewish-Americans have expressed their preference for," she said. "It is a great move. It is an easy move to do based on how much he talked about that in the debates and in the sound bites.”
The answer lies in the State Department and certain national security figures who immediately begin warning that such a move will upset Muslims and prevent us from being seen as a fair negotiator. Bush gave in. Trump appears to be ready to resist.