US Embassy in Jerusalem Fully Reopens Following Israel–Iran Cease-Fire

Americans seeking to move out of Israel are advised to ‘take the first available option’ to exit the country, the embassy said.

A U.S. flag flies at the U.S. Embassy complex in Jerusalem on Sept. 27, 2023. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem restarted operations “as usual” on June 25 following a cease-fire agreement between Iran and Israel, the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy was shut down on June 21 and June 22 and resumed limited in-person operations on June 23, with the status quo expected to continue through June 27.

The embassy has now resumed “its normal regularly scheduled U.S. passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad appointments on Wednesday, June 25,” according to the statement.

“We will accept walk-ins (no appointment necessary) for U.S. citizens needing a limited-validity, emergency passport in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for those in line before 8:30 a.m. Visa operations will resume in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Monday, June 30,” it reads.

The Israel Airports Authority has lifted restrictions on the number of flights that can come into and go out of the country, as well as the number of passengers allowed per flight. El Al, Arkia, and Israir airlines will start operations immediately, according to the alert.

The embassy lifted the “shelter in place” alert issued for U.S. government employees and their family members. They are now allowed to travel outside Jerusalem and the greater Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva areas.

“U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel or the West Bank should take the first available option, even if it is not your first choice of destination,” the alert reads.

“The U.S. Embassy is aware that third parties are assisting U.S. citizens in departing Israel overland to Jordan and Egypt and by sea to Cyprus. While we are not able to endorse any providers, we know some have been able to successfully help U.S. citizens.”

The Israel–Iran cease-fire went into effect on June 25, ending more than a week of conflict that involved air strikes and ballistic missile attacks. On June 23, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he brokered the peace deal following U.S. strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran.

“Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally! It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, stop the war!” Trump wrote in a June 24 Truth Social post.

US Strikes

Trump’s decisive air strikes against Iran have attracted criticism from Democrats.

In a June 21 statement, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) accused Trump of taking steps that could have dragged the United States into another war even though he came to office with the promise of ending foreign wars.

The strikes were carried out “without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, without regard to the consistent conclusions of the intelligence community, and without explaining to the American people what’s at stake,” the senator said.

Conversely, Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.) sent a letter to the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee on June 24, recommending Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in brokering the peace between Israel and Iran.

“President Trump’s influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible. President Trump also took bold, decisive actions to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ensure that the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism remains incapable of acquiring a nuclear weapon,” the lawmaker wrote.

CNN published a report that questioned the effectiveness of the strikes, saying a leaked classified U.S. intelligence assessment found that the B2 bombings had only set back the country’s nuclear programs by a few months.

The White House rejected the assessment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a June 24 statement that the alleged Defense Intelligence Agency assessment was “flat-out wrong.” The leaking of the document was an attempt to “demean President Trump,” she said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were successful.

“Based on everything we have seen—and I’ve seen it all—our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” Hegseth said in a statement.

“Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target—and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”