Retired Marine Corps Gen. Jack Mattis, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon, told senators in Washington Thursday that in his view, Tel Aviv–not Jerusalem–is the capital of Israel. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mattis was asked by Sen, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., “What’s the capital of
Israel?” Mattis responded, “The capital of Israel that I go to, sir, is Tel Aviv because that’s where all their government people are.” Mattis may have been referring to his meetings with Israeli defense officials. While Israel’s Defense Ministry is in Tel Aviv, virtually all of Israel’s other government offices, including the Knesset, the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s residence have been in Jerusalem for decades. READ MORE
