September 16 and 17, 2023 were celebrated by Jews around the world as the start of the new year. Together with Yom Kippur next week, they mark the holiest days in Judaism.

The United States embassy to Israel did not mark the occasion with any wishes to the Jews in Israel or around the world. This stood in sharp contrast to commemorating holidays for other religions.

In April 2023, the US embassy posted articles about the US Ambassador to Israel hosting Muslims to celebrate an Iftar meal. It also posted about National Arab American Heritage Month. In March, the site posted a message from the Secretary of State and his wish to “the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world Ramadan Kareem.”

Yet the embassy did not post about Jewish Heritage Month in May. It did not post Passover wishes which coincided with Ramadan in 2023. It has not wished any Jews greetings over their high holy days in September.

The embassy is well aware of the holidays. It chose to warn Jews to not travel to Uman, Ukraine over Rosh Hashana. President Biden wished Jews a happy holiday but the embassy staff in Israel did think it important to share, even as it does so for Muslim holidays.

The current staff of the U.S. embassy to Israel is seemingly going out of its way to belittle Jews and Judaism, and court Arabs and Muslims.

Western Jerusalem’s U.S. Consulate and Embassy

Due to Muslim Arab terrorism now going on in Israel during the month of Ramadan, the United States embassy has placed the Old City of Jerusalem on its restricted list.

The security alert from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was published on March 30, 2022 and stated:

Due to recent terrorist attacks in the area and potential security issues associated with the upcoming April 2022 holidays, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted until further notice from entering the Old City of Jerusalem after dark (dusk to dawn) and on Fridays.  Damascus, Herod’s, and Lions’ Gates are off limits as well.

U.S. citizens should take this into consideration when planning their own activities.

The question is whether the imposition of a no-go zone in the holy city of Jerusalem during Passover, Easter and Ramadan was because the United States does not trust Israeli security or in deference to Muslim sensitivities. Will the US embassy impose this restriction on American Muslims at the embassy as well, or just non-Muslims?

Terrorist attacks are happening all over Israel, including in Bnei Brak, Beersheva and Tel Aviv. Will the US put those cities on the no-go list as well? That’s highly doubtful as the U.S. focuses on religious tension – not terrorism – in the city considered holy to three faiths.

The United States embassy to Israel has bowed to Islamic demands to restrict its non-Muslim personnel from visiting the holy city of Jerusalem. One can imagine the administration demanding Israeli Jews to do the same in the future.