Marco Rubio just slammed the door on Biden’s backdoor Palestinian embassy, ending four years of diplomatic deception that undermined Israeli sovereignty and American law.
At a Glance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio will dissolve the Biden-created Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) and merge it with the US Embassy in Jerusalem
- The OPA operated as a quasi-independent mission outside embassy control, effectively creating a de facto Palestinian embassy
- The office faced criticism for calling on Israel to show “restraint” during the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks
- This move restores Trump’s original vision of a unified US diplomatic mission in Jerusalem
- Republican lawmakers view this as reinforcing Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s undivided capital
Shutting Down Biden’s Diplomatic End-Run
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is finally cleaning house at the State Department, starting with shutting down one of the Biden administration’s most brazen attempts to undermine Trump’s Israel policy. The Office of Palestinian Affairs, a thinly-veiled attempt to establish a de facto Palestinian embassy on Israeli soil, is getting the axe – and not a moment too soon. This rogue diplomatic outpost has been operating independently of our Jerusalem embassy since Biden created it in June 2022, blatantly circumventing Israeli sovereignty and creating diplomatic chaos.
The Biden administration’s creation of this office was a textbook example of how the establishment tries to silently undo Trump’s accomplishments without actually admitting what they’re doing. Instead of formally reversing Trump’s historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (which would have been politically toxic), they simply established this separate diplomatic channel that reported directly to Washington rather than to our ambassador in Jerusalem. Pure swamp tactics – create bureaucratic workarounds when you can’t get your way legitimately.
Exposed: The OPA’s Anti-Israel Stance
This wasn’t just about bureaucratic shuffling – the OPA’s actions repeatedly demonstrated whose side they were really on. When Hamas terrorists were slaughtering Israeli civilians on October 7, what was the OPA’s response? They called for Israel to show “restraint.” Yes, you read that correctly. While Jewish families were being butchered in their homes, Biden’s Palestinian diplomats were busy telling Israel not to defend itself too vigorously. And if that weren’t bad enough, reports indicate the office even denied consular services to dual Israeli-American citizens. Your tax dollars at work, folks!
“Let there be no misunderstanding: this unprecedented arrangement—to turn the Palestinian Affairs Unit into a ‘U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs’ that will no longer report to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel but instead report directly to the State Department in Washington, D.C., and to appoint a Special Envoy to the Palestinians—is an effort to open an unofficial and de facto U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem.” – Rubio and his colleagues
The office’s existence created a bizarre diplomatic contradiction: we officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, yet simultaneously maintained what amounted to a Palestinian diplomatic mission there that operated as if Jerusalem were disputed territory. This is exactly the kind of nonsensical double-speak that makes Americans distrust their government. Say one thing, do another – standard operating procedure for the establishment before Trump shook things up.
Republicans Rally Behind Diplomatic Clarity
Unsurprisingly, Rubio’s decision to close this diplomatic shell game is drawing strong support from Republicans who’ve been fighting this battle since Biden reopened the office. Senator Bill Hagerty and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise have both praised the move, recognizing it as essential to reinforcing Trump’s vision for American diplomacy in the region. The law is clear – the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and Biden’s workaround was just another example of the administrative state thinking it can ignore laws it doesn’t like.
“I welcome Secretary Rubio’s efforts in the second Trump administration to reinforce President Trump’s historic first-term decision to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal and indivisible capital of Jerusalem.” – Senator Bill Hagerty
This move is about more than just bureaucratic reorganization – it’s about whether America stands by its word and its allies. For decades, politicians from both parties promised to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but only Trump actually delivered. Biden tried to reverse this accomplishment through bureaucratic sleight-of-hand, but now Rubio is restoring integrity to our foreign policy. The elimination of the Special Envoy to the Palestinians position is another welcome development that signals America is done playing diplomatic games with terrorists and their enablers.
Restoring American Credibility
At its core, this move by Rubio reflects a return to sensible foreign policy based on reality rather than wishful thinking. The Palestinian Authority has consistently rejected peace offers, paid terrorists who murder civilians, and aligned itself with America’s enemies. Yet somehow, the Biden administration thought they deserved special diplomatic treatment. This kind of backward thinking is precisely why our foreign policy has been such a disaster in recent years – rewarding bad behavior while taking allies for granted.
“I was a strong supporter of President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and was outraged when the Biden administration sought to undermine President Trump’s historic move.” – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
With this decisive action, Rubio is sending a clear message that America stands unequivocally with Israel and that the days of diplomatic double-dealing are over. No more backdoor maneuvers, no more bureaucratic end-runs around congressional intent, and no more special treatment for those who sponsor terrorism. Just straight talk and clear policy – exactly what Trump promised when he said America would start winning again. The closing of this office is just the beginning of what promises to be a welcome housecleaning at the State Department. It’s about time.
