Bush Signature Endorses Jerusalem’s Prominence

President Bush signed legislation that requires his administration to identify Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Faced with a choice between endorsing the controversial bill passed by Congress and shutting down U.S. diplomatic activity, Bush put his signature on the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2003, which gives the administration more than $4 billion for running the State Department.

In a written statement, Bush said U.S. policy regarding Jerusalem “has not changed.”

The bill goes further on Jerusalem than previously demanded by Congress, which for years has pressed presidents on the related question of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.