State Dep't says Israel has a right to defend itself, but can't say the same of Palestinians: Video -
The State Department spokesman emphasized Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks from Gaza but was then incapable of saying that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves from Israel's onslaught of missiles. Ref. Source 9
US: Palestine not a state, does not qualify for ICC membership:
The US will oppose the Palestinian Authority's move to join the body, and several others at the United Nations, as technically flawed, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. Ref. Source 6
President Trump renews waiver to keep U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. President Trump renewed a waiver Thursday that keeps the U.S. Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, rather than moving it to Jerusalem as he promised during the presidential campaign. Moving the embassy to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, would be highly controversial because the status of Jerusalem is disputed. Israel claims rights to Jerusalem dating back to biblical times, but Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state. As a result, the United States and other countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, pending peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Congress passed a law in 1995 calling for the re-location of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but presidents can avoid doing that by signing a waiver twice a year to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv. Ref. USAToday.