BRIEFING FOR THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON THE IMPACT OF MOVING THE US EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R001301750002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 24, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 27, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/10/24: CIA-RDP90B01370R001301750002-3
.UM 1! on
OLL 84-2458
27 June 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Briefing for the House Foreign Affairs Committee
on the Impact of Moving the US Embassy to
Jerusalem
1. On 27 June 1984, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
was briefed on the foreign policy implications of moving the
U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Lantos-Gilman
bill for the transfer is pending before the Committee; and
the above briefing is one of several held by the Committee
as it considers the issue. The CIA briefing was requested
by the Committee's Subcommitte on Europe and the Middle
East. The following Committee Members attended:
Lee H. Hamilton (D., IN), Chairman
Stephen J. Solarz (D., NY)
Dan Mica (D., FL)
Tom Lantos (D., CA)
Larry Smith (D., FL)
Howard Berman (D., CA)
Mel Levine (D., CA)
William Broomfield (R., MI)
Larry Winn (R., KS)
Benjamin Gilman (R., NY)
Mark Siljander (R., MI)
Ed Zschau (R., CA)
Committee staffers attending included Ev Bierman, Mike Van
Dusen, Alison Fortier, No Spalation, Tony Verstandig, and
Robert Kurz. Michele Bova and Ed Fox of State/Legislative
Liaison also attended. The CIA briefers were
Director of the Office of Near Eastern and Sout Asian
Analyses and Deputy Director. A transcript was
taken.
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SECRET
The briefing opened with a brief overview by Mr.
of likely international reactions to any changes in
the status of US official representation in Jerusalem. He
pointed out the political and reli ious si nificance of
Jerusalem to the Islamic world. also mentioned
the difficulties that would arise in relations with
moderate Arab states and indicated that radical states would
probably exploit the move, thereby complicating the Middle
East Peace process and possibly even destroying it.
3. provided more details about the possible 25X1
world reaction. He explained that CIA stations overseas had
been asked to comment on the likely response in their
countries. His appraisal included the muted but negative
response of the moderates to the violent reaction of
terrorist-proned adical states such as Libya, Iran, South
Yemen and Syria. also described the intensity of 25X1
popular, negative Arabic feeling about US-Israeli relations
and estimated that the transfer of US representation could
be harmful over the long run to both Israeli and US
objectives in the region. 0 25X1
4. The Members asked numerous questions. Mr. Gilman
asked to see the Interagency Intelligence Assessment of 4
April 1984 on international reaction to moving the US
Embassy to Jordan. The meeting concluded with a note of
appreciation from acting Chairman Mica and our agreement to
try to make arrangements to satisfy Mr. Gilman's request for
the interagency memorandum. 25X1
Liaison Division
Office of Legislative Liaison
Distribution:
1 - OLL Record Copy
1 - OLL Chron Copy
OLL/LDF-____~ pm (5 Jul 84)
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