Huckabee announces groundbreaking for permanent US Embassy in Jerusalem to be soon

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on Sunday that the United States will soon commence construction of a permanent embassy in Jerusalem, revealing the next phase of the project during a Sukkot gathering hosted by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion at Safra Square. The project follows the July 1 agreement between Israel and the United States, which allocated the Allenby Compound in southern Jerusalem for the embassy's permanent home.

While construction may take years, Huckabee emphasized the commitment of the United States to the city, stating that a permanent imprint will be made in Jerusalem. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, along with his wife Stavit, hosted the diplomatic corps in the city's largest sukkah, which can accommodate about 650 people. Among the attendees was British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters, a notable presence given that the British Embassy remains in Tel Aviv and does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.

Lion encouraged other countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem, noting that nine currently have missions there and that Colombia is expected to become the 10th in the coming weeks. Huckabee praised the city's development and assured that the permanent embassy would make it difficult for anyone to attempt to move the American presence out of Jerusalem.