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Kredo: State Department Employing 'Pretzel Logic' in Defiance of Trump's Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's Capital

December 14, 2017

Washington Free Beacon reporter Adam Kredo appeared on One America News to discuss what he called the State Department's "pretzel logic" regarding its defiance of Trump administration policy on Jerusalem.

President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week, but the State Department will not recognize that fact on official documents, maps, and passports, saying boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem are subject to final status negotiations.

"We're working with something here I like to refer to as pretzel logic, and it's something we see from this State Department quite often, especially when it comes to issues like Israel," Kredo said.

Kredo said hostility toward Israel is deeply embedded at the State Department. His sources told him that career diplomats at the agency strongly opposed Trump's decision to make the recognition announcement last week.

"The White House really dragged the State Department along on this," Kredo said, adding that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was forced to call Arab leaders about the announcement.

"Twisting and turning to not actually fully implement the president's will," Kredo said of the State Department.

Asked by anchor Liz Wheeler if Tillerson was responsible for bucking Trump's policy, Kredo said that while he is the one at the top, the anti-Israel sentiment came more from State lawyers and entrenched diplomats.