Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), joined by more than 100 Republican cosponsors, will introduce a bill in the House on Wednesday seeking to block the Biden administration from reopening the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem that would serve Palestinians. 

Kustoff’s bill is identical to one introduced in the Senate last month by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), which currently has 38 cosponsors. Kustoff’s bill is cosponsored by key members of House GOP leadership, including Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX).

“Let me be clear: Jerusalem is and will always remain the eternal capital of the State of Israel,” Kustoff said in a statement to Jewish Insider.

“The Biden Administration’s proposal to reopen a U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem would be inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that specifically supported Jerusalem remaining an undivided city and recognized as the capital of Israel,” Kustoff continued. “That is why I introduced the Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021. This bill is necessary to ensure the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is faithfully implemented, upheld, and preserved.”

The Kustoff legislation also follows a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the consulate’s reopening, which was signed by all but five House Republicans and organized by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), who is also cosponsoring Kustoff’s bill.

“The Biden administration absolutely must not betray our critical alliance with Israel by reopening the U.S. consulate general in Jerusalem, which is being pushed by the Palestinian Authority to divide Israel’s eternal capital,” Zeldin told JI. “I am proud to join Congressman Kustoff and many of our colleagues in this latest effort to ensure that the Jerusalem Embassy Act is upheld and fully implemented, Israel’s position as host nation is respected, and that Israel’s capital remains undivided.”

Experts disagree over whether a reopened consulate — which would require the approval of the Israeli government — would actually violate the 1995 law, which contains no specific provision blocking the establishment of another diplomatic facility in Jerusalem. The consulate’s supporters argue that reopening the consulate would inherently divide Jerusalem, contravening the 1995 law.

Across the aisle, there are emerging indications of concern over the Biden administration’s strategy. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) recently released separate statements emphasizing that the U.S. would need Israel’s consent to open the consulate. Israeli officials have repeatedly insisted they will not grant that permission.

Zeldin, who is running for governor of New York, said in a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas earlier this month that some Democratic lawmakers have expressed opposition to reopening the consulate, although none have expressed direct opposition to date publicly.