A man shouts slogans during a protest against U.S. recognition of Jerusalem, in Tehran, Iran, on Dec. 11, 2017. Thousands of Iranians held a rally to condemn U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision on Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said on Friday that the United States is planning to open its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem in May, a move that has reversed longtime U.S. policy and triggered global objection.
The embassy will initially be located in the Arnona neighborhood in a building that now houses consular operations of U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem, said the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert in a statement.
A Palestinian protester burns a tire during clashes with Israeli troops after a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Dec. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)
A new embassy annex on the Arnona compound is expected to be open by the end of 2019, Nauert added.
Meanwhile, the United States has started searching for a site as the permanent U.S. embassy to Israel, a process which Nauert described could be "a longer-term undertaking."
The embassy opening in May will coincide with Israel's 70th anniversary, the spokesperson added.
U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem, May 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Nati Shochat-JINI)
Despite global opposition, Trump delivered one of his major campaign promises in December by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel and demanded the State Department develop a plan to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Recently, Palestinian officials announced in many occasions that the U.S. policies in the region threaten security and stability and cannot achieve peace in the Middle East.