Secretary of State Marco Rubio orders closure of the Biden-created Palestinian Affairs Office in Jerusalem, merging it with the U.S. Embassy to restore Trump’s diplomatic vision.
At a Glance
- Rubio will dissolve the Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) and merge it with the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem
- The OPA, created by Biden in 2022, operated independently of the U.S. Embassy to Israel
- This move restores Trump administration’s unified diplomatic approach in Jerusalem
- The position of Special Envoy to the Palestinians will also be eliminated
- Republican leaders view the closure as reinforcing U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital
Reversing Biden’s Middle East Policy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to dissolve the State Department’s Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) in Jerusalem and incorporate its functions into the American embassy. This decisive action rolls back a controversial Biden administration initiative that had established a separate diplomatic channel for Palestinian relations outside the authority of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. The OPA, created in June 2022, effectively functioned as a quasi-independent mission dedicated to Palestinian Authority relations, creating what many viewed as a de facto Palestinian embassy.
“Let there be no misunderstanding: this unprecedented arrangement—to turn the Palestinian Affairs Unit into a ‘U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs’ that will no longer report to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel but instead report directly to the State Department in Washington, D.C., and to appoint a Special Envoy to the Palestinians—is an effort to open an unofficial and de facto U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem.”, alleged Rubio and his colleagues
The OPA faced significant criticism from Republican lawmakers who viewed it as potentially violating the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. Over 80 legislators, including Rubio, formally opposed its creation, arguing it undermined President Trump’s historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital. The closure also eliminates the position of Special Envoy to the Palestinians, further streamlining U.S. diplomatic operations in the region.
Restoring Diplomatic Clarity
The Trump administration had previously closed a similar Palestinian diplomatic mission in 2019, merging its responsibilities into the newly established U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Biden’s 2022 decision to reestablish a separate Palestinian office created immediate controversy with Israeli officials and pro-Israel members of Congress. The OPA’s activities during the October 2023 Hamas attacks further fueled concerns when it issued statements calling for Israeli “restraint” in responding to the terrorist assault, a position widely criticized as inappropriate.
“I welcome Secretary Rubio’s efforts in the second Trump administration to reinforce President Trump’s historic first-term decision to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal and indivisible capital of Jerusalem.”, said Senator Bill Hagerty.
Reports also emerged suggesting the OPA denied consular services to dual Israeli-American citizens, raising serious questions about its operational policies and potential political bias. The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy had advocated for closing the office, highlighting legal inconsistencies and concerns that its existence undermined Israeli sovereignty over its capital. By returning to a unified diplomatic mission, Rubio’s decision aims to eliminate confusion about America’s position on Jerusalem’s status.
Congressional Support and Future Implications
The decision has garnered strong support from prominent Republican leaders. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised the move, stating he “was a strong supporter of President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and was outraged when the Biden administration sought to undermine President Trump’s historic move.” Senator Bill Hagerty similarly applauded Rubio’s efforts to reinforce Trump’s implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995.
“I was a strong supporter of President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and was outraged when the Biden administration sought to undermine President Trump’s historic move.”, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
The closure represents part of a broader effort to realign State Department operations with Trump’s foreign policy objectives in the Middle East. Policy experts suggest this move may be followed by additional changes, including potential reviews of funding for UN agencies perceived as undermining Israel and possible suspension of aid to UNRWA. By streamlining diplomatic channels and eliminating bureaucratic redundancies, Rubio’s leadership signals a renewed focus on strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance while establishing more realistic parameters for Palestinian engagement.
