Ron Dermer, Israel's top diplomat in the United States, made the statement at an Israeli embassy Hanukkah party in Washington. | Getty Israeli ambassador urges move of U.S. embassy

Israel's ambassador to the United States on Tuesday evening forcefully endorsed moving America's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the controversial diplomatic move would boost the chances of peace in the region.

Ron Dermer, Israel's top diplomat in the United States, made the statement at an Israeli embassy Hanukkah party in Washington. It is a boost to President-elect Donald Trump's administration, which has said moving the embassy to Jerusalem is a top priority. Upon being named as Trump's choice for ambassador to Israel, David Friedman said in a statement that he will "strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region, and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem."


Dermer told the crowd gathered in Israel's embassy in upper Northwest Washington that Israel puts its embassies in countries' capitals and joked that he has said he would move Israel's embassy to New York if the U.S. didn't move its diplomatic headquarters to Jerusalem. He called moving the embassy to Jerusalem a "great step forward to peace," a statement that is hardly widely accepted, especially in the Arab world.

"The reasons why the United States should move the embassy I think are pretty clear," Dermer said to the crowd gathered at the embassy, which included this reporter. "The first thing, it would send a strong message against the delegitimization of Israel and of Jerusalem. ... The second reason why I think the embassy should be moved to our capital is that it would be a great step forward to peace. That's right. A great step forward to peace."

Despite support from Congress, previous U.S. presidents have avoided moving the embassy because Jerusalem's status has been seen as a part of a larger bargain between Israel and the Palestinians. No countries have embassies in Jerusalem, but many — including the U.S. — have consulates in the city, which was divided between Israel and Jordan from 1948 to 1967. It has been under full Israeli control since.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians' top negotiator, warned earlier this week that if the United States moves the embassy to Jerusalem, the flagging peace process is all but over.