US allows Jerusalem-born citizens to put Israel on passports

The United States will allow Americans born in disputed Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth on passports and other documents, according to a new policy announced Thursday.

The move came a day after the United States amended science accords signed with Israel to apply to institutions in the occupied West Bank. The changes, enacted days before the U.S. election, appeared to be aimed at shoring up the support of evangelical Christians and other Israel backers.

President Donald Trump's administration broke with decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017 and later moving the embassy there from Tel Aviv, where most other countries maintain their missions.

An Israeli supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump wears a hat in the colors of the American flag at a rally for his re-election, at a promenade overlooking Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoMaya Alleruzzo)

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war along with the West Bank, territories the Palestinians seek as part of their future state. Israel considers the entire city its “unified, eternal” capital while the Palestinians want their own capital in east Jerusalem.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the new passport policy was in keeping with the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Jerusalem-born Americans will be able to specify either “Israel” or “Jerusalem” as their place of birth on passports and official documents.

Those who do not specify their place of birth will be listed as having been born in Jerusalem.

An Israeli supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump waves a campaign flag at a rally for his re-election, on a promenade overlooking Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoMaya Alleruzzo)

Trump has taken a series of unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians. He released a plan to resolve the Middle East conflict in January that overwhelmingly favors Israel and was immediately rejected by the Palestinians.

The administration has succeeded, however, in improving ties between Israel and other Arab nations. In recent weeks the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan have agreed to normalize relations with Israel, giving Trump a string of foreign policy achievements ahead of the vote.

In return, the United Arab Emirates hopes to purchase advanced U.S. weapons, including stealth F-35 fighter jets, and Sudan will be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, which will allow it to receive much-needed foreign aid.

An Israeli supporter of the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump waves American and Israeli flags from a car at a rally outside of the U.S. Embassy, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoMaya Alleruzzo)

An Israeli supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump for re-election wears a face covering in the colors of the American flag, at a rally in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoMaya Alleruzzo)

An Israeli supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump for re-election waves an American flag from her car as she headed for a rally outside of the U.S. Embassy, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoMaya Alleruzzo)