‘Great Honor’: US Embassy in Jerusalem Issues first Passport with Birthplace ‘Israel’ for Citizen Born in Jerusalem  

Jerusalem, 1 November, 2020 (TPS) -- The US Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday issued the first passport to an American citizen born in Jerusalem with the place of birth designated as “Israel.”

The passport was issued to Menachem Zivotofsky, who first applied 18 years ago and litigated twice before the US Supreme Court and lost.

However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday that consistent with President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Proclamation of December 6, 2017, and the historic opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, US citizens born in Jerusalem can now elect to list their place of birth as either “Jerusalem” or “Israel” on their passports.

“We remain committed to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” he added.

“Menachem Zivotofsky, it is my honor to present you with the very first passport issued to an American citizen born in Jerusalem with ‘Israel’ designated as the place of birth,” said US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Thanking Pompeo for “his leadership,” Friedman noted that “it’s no secret that under prior stewardship the State Department would not alter the passport designation even after Jerusalem was recognized as Israel’s capital. Secretary Pompeo cut through that bureaucracy and brought our passport policy in line with our foreign policy and common sense.”

“Finally, I would like to thank President Donald Trump who set this course in motion. In moving our Embassy to Jerusalem, President Trump kept a sacred promise and reinforced our commitment to stand with our friends and to never flinch in the face of groundless opposition or threats. Our stature as a nation has been greatly enhanced by President Trump’s courage and determination,” he added.

“A great honor, Mazal Tov,” he told Zivotofsky.