New Embassy District In Jerusalem Could Be Called ‘Trump Town’
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu during the president’s visit to Israel in May 2017. Image by Getty
By Aiden Pink April 29, 2018
As more nations announce their intentions to move their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the country’s housing minister is moving to build a new diplomatic district, which he said could be called “Trump Town.”
Given that leaders of countries like the Czech Republic and Guatemala have announced their intentions to follow the lead of the United States and relocate their embassies, Construction Minister Yoav Gallant told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that his ministry is actively working to clear space for new diplomatic buildings in the ancient city.
“There is an apparent pattern of embassies moving to Jerusalem, and we have to start getting ready now,” Gallant said. “We might have to build dozens of embassies, and we would need new land ready for that purpose. I asked my ministry to vigorously take action as fast as possible.”
Embassies in other countries’s capitals are usually grouped together because of zoning and security needs. Gallant said that such a neighborhood could be called “Embassy Town” or “Trump Town,” in honor of President Trump, who initiated the American embassy’s move.
Members of the Trump administration will inaugurate the Jerusalem embassy next month in the country’s current consulate building, though it is believed that a new building will be necessary.
No Israeli landmarks have yet been named after Trump, though Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said last year that he wanted to name the under-construction train station next to the Western Wall after the American president.
Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink
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