The Relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

The relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2017 challenged longstanding U.S. policy, previously upheld by various administrations. This thesis analyzes two hypotheses through ideational liberalism and defensive structural realism, investigating how domestic ideational preferences and legitimate actors influenced this policy shift. Additionally, it explores the threats to U.S. interests in the region that may have prompted a departure from established diplomatic norms. The research highlights the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the Near East.