Israel prepares for inauguration of US embassy

Jerusalem, May 13: A day before the opening ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem that sparked off Palestinian protests, preparations in Israel were on in full swing on Sunday for the event. US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, his senior adviser, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin will lead the US delegation. The Israeli foreign ministry said that 86 foreign ambassadors to Israel were invited to the opening ceremony taking place on Monday. About 40 of them have accepted the invitation, Xinhua reported.

Four European countries — Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary — have confirmed their participation although the European Union opposes the relocation. At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the relocation would be “a truly historic thing”. Thousands of police officers were deployed throughout the Jerusalem districts to thwart any Palestinian protests and riots. ANS)