Israel
US Jerusalem envoy briefly renamed ‘ambassador to Israel, West Bank and Gaza’
The US Embassy said it was ‘an inadvertent edit, and not reflective of a policy change’
January 21, 2021 10:56
The US Embassy said it was ‘an inadvertent edit, and not reflective of a policy change’
January 21, 2021 10:56The US Embassy in Jerusalem has blamed an “inadvertent edit” for a change to the Ambassador to Israel’s Twitter account that seemed to suggest the new American President was implementing a radical new approach to the Palestinians.
The US Ambassador to Israel's Twitter account was changed from displaying the title “Ambassador to Israel” to “Ambassador to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.”
Asked to comment on the alteration, the US Embassy in Israel said: “This is not a policy change or indication of future policy change."
The social media incident took place as Joe Biden was sworn in as president and David Friedman, a political appointee of former president Donald Trump, officially stepped down from the post.
The Ambassador’s Twitter page was then changed to display its previous title.
In a further comment, the US Embassy said: "It was an inadvertent edit, and not reflective of a policy change."
During former Ambassador Friedman’s tenure, the American Embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In March 2019 the US Consulate in East Jerusalem was then folded into the embassy in Jerusalem.
Under President Trump, Israel’s activities in the West Bank were also free from US scrutiny.
Hardline Republican’s quickly attempted to accuse President Biden of showing “hostility to Israel” over the Twitter incident on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Shrier is serving temporarily as US Ambassador to Israel until President Biden appoints a permanent ambassador.
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