Obama Did Not Drop Embassy Language From 1995 Jerusalem Act

UPDATE!!!!!

Gordon Johndroe, of the Bush administration, told me the following:

This thing is so routine, don't think there was any intention on our part to signal anything with the language change. We probably just didn't cut and paste the whole thing.

Some reports have suggested the Obama White House intentionally dropped one sentence from a standard White House extension for six months of US efforts to build an embassy in Jerusalem.

Congress in 1995 passed a law, The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (public law 104-45) that made it US policy to build a US embassy in Jerusalem. The law contained a national security exemption allowing the president to "suspend" (actually, delay) implementation of the law. Every president has invoked this exemption because Jerusalem is a "final status" issue and numerous other details have to be worked out between Israel and the Palestinians before any thought could be given to constructing a US embassy there.

The language for this exemption has taken on a boiler-plate quality over the years. It has historically contained one line that has lately caused a stir: "My administration remains committed to beginning the process of moving our Embassy to Jerusalem."

When Obama released his exemption statement last week this line was not included, prompting some to allege a shift in policy.

I checked with the National Security Council and through spokesman Michael Hammer was told the very last exemptioin notice issued by the Bush White House also failed to include the "My administration remains committed" language and that Obma's staff merely "copied and pasted" the Bush language for its exemption (proof, if it was ever needed, that the language is now world class boilerplate).

Below you will find, in sequence, the Obama exemption, the last Bush exemption, and the Bush exemption from June of 2008 that contained the "My administration remains committed.." line.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 5, 2009

June 5, 2009

Presidential Determination

No. 2009-19

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Suspension of Limitations Under the

Jerusalem Embassy Act

Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the "Act"), I hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6 months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.

You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.

This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this determination and report to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

JUNE 4, 2008 ACT

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
-
For Immediate Release June 4, 2008
June 4, 2008
Presidential Determination
No. 2008-20
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem
Embassy Act
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the "Act"), I hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6 months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act. My Administration remains committed to beginning the process of moving our Embassy to Jerusalem.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this determination and report to the Congress.
GEORGE W. BUSH
DECEMBER 8, 2008
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
-
For Immediate Release December 8, 2008
December 4, 2008
Presidential Determination
No. 2009-8
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem
Embassy Act
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the "Act"), I hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6 months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this determination and report to the Congress.
GEORGE W. BUSH