During his campaign, Trump promised to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, thrilling Israelis and many pro-Israel Christian voters. But now that move has been delayed.

"No one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President's strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance," the White House said in a statement.

The statement makes clear the president made the decision because he intends to push ahead with plans for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

"President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America's national security interests," the statement said.

"But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when," it continued.

Many were hoping the president would announce his decision to move the embassy during his recent visit. Now he has kicked the can down the road like his predecessors, former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, G.W. Bush and Barack Obama, postponing the decision for another six months.

For more than two decades, the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, stipulating that the embassy be relocated to Jerusalem, has been pushed off.

The waiver is almost always justified on the basis of further complicating the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which actively warns against such a move.

While Trump reportedly would like to fulfill his campaign promise, he appears to have opted for postponement to avoid condemnation by Arab nations and other Western allies.

At a Jerusalem Day event last week, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said to President Trump, "...we are grateful and say again that we want to see the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem."

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