“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for thousands of years and is the beating heart of modern Israel,” DeSantis said. He noted: Israel’s stewardship of Jerusalem’s holy sites has been tremendous, especially regarding religious freedom. During the Arab occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem (between 1949-1967), Jews were systematically discriminated against, and Christians were treated as second-class citizens. Most of the Old City synagogues were destroyed or desecrated.

He pointed out that, conversely, “under Israeli sovereignty, religious freedom is the rule and the Holy Sites – Christian, Jewish, and Muslim – are treated with care and respect. The disrepair that plagued Jerusalem under Arab occupation has given way to a flourishing city that is one of the world’s crown jewels.” He added, “Following the commitment to move the embassy will demonstrate American leadership.”