Rubio Delivers Final Blow to Office Amid Anti-Israel Concerns

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly closed the Office of Palestinian Affairs and moved its duties to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. The office was created by the Biden administration and often clashed with Republicans who saw it as anti-Israel. Ambassador Mike Huckabee now oversees all U.S. diplomatic efforts related to Palestinian relations from the Jerusalem embassy.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden at Spartanburg Airport

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) wrote, “The Biden administration’s Office of Palestinian Affairs undermined Israel & emboldened Hamas.” Tenney added, “Thank you, @SecRubio & @USAmbIsrael, for dissolving this entity & reaffirming the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem as the sole diplomatic mission in Jerusalem as required by law.”

Marco Rubio attends Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, “This decision will restore the first Trump term framework of a unified US diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the US ambassador to Israel.”

President Donald Trump enters University of Alabama

The Office of Palestinian Affairs operated independently from the embassy and drew criticism for its anti-Israel stance, especially after it urged Israel to avoid retaliation following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Critics raised concerns about potential violations of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995.

Pro-Palestine protesters hold the national flag

Bruce stated that the merger ensures cohesive diplomatic operations rather than segmented functions. Republican officials support closing the Office of Palestinian Affairs, viewing it as essential for recalibrating U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine. They assert that the U.S.-Israeli relationship should be managed exclusively by embassy officials without external influence.

US President Donald Trump in New York State Supreme Court

Bruce said, “It is making sure that the issues that are important are all working together right, are not segmented out so that the interests of the embassy — very, very much like the interests of our foreign aid and other actions — can work together in the Bureau as one entity.”

U.S. President Donald Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court

This move aligns with the diplomatic model established during President Donald Trump’s tenure, which recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv. A new envoy for the Palestinians has yet to be announced as part of this transition.

President Donald Trump at Coleman Coliseum

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) stated, “The U.S.-Israeli relationship should be handled exclusively by the appointed representatives at our Embassy in Jerusalem, not by anti-Israel activists working with the terrorist-supporting Palestinian Authority.”

Grace Hall covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.