Move U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump praised Israel as one of the United States' greatest allies, which is why he is promising to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

"We will send a clear signal that there is no daylight between America and our most reliable ally, the state of Israel," Trump said after promising to move the embassy at his speech for American Israel Public Affairs Committee. "The Palestinians must come to the table knowing that the bond between the United States and Israel is absolutely, totally unbreakable."

WHY HE'S PROMISING IT

On the campaign trail, Trump praised Israel, and sees moving the embassy as an important part in making Jerusalem the official capital of Israel.

In 1995, Congress passed a law mandating the embassy be moved to Jerusalem by 1999. But U.S. presidents have signed waivers to suspend the move, amid fears it would destabilize peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

See Figure 1 on PolitiFact.com

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN

Because of the 1995 law, Trump could initiate the move on his own by not signing waivers like former presidents have done.

Logistically speaking, moving the embassy would not be a problem, said Ido Oren, a political science professor at the University of Florida.

He said construction may take a few years but in the meantime a section of the existing U.S. consulate in West Jerusalem could be designated an embassy. He also said office space could be rented elsewhere for a few years.

The real problem is the politics surrounding the move, which could potentially derail his promise.

WHAT'S STANDING IN HIS WAY

Chuck Freilich, an International Security Program senior fellow at Harvard University, said moving the embassy could lead to an uproar in the Arab and Muslim worlds, if not done as part of some agreed framework, like a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Oren said that might be enough to keep Trump from following through.

"Some of his advisers as well as the professional diplomats of the State Department will likely warn him that such a move might trigger a new Palestinian uprising, further antagonize the Arab and Muslim worlds, undermine the objective of fighting the Islamic State, etc.," he said.

A POSSIBLE TIMELINE

Trump could trigger a move by failing to sign a waiver to the 1995 law. The current U.S. consulate in Jerusalem could serve as a temporary embassy facility.