To the editor:
It's difficult to fathom the reasoning of either the Supreme Court or the editorial board of The New York Times regarding the decision asserting that, under the Constitution, Congress cannot direct the president to stop pretending that American citizens born in the capital of Israel weren't.
Carefully rereading the Constitution, I could find only one power relating to foreign policy given to the president without any oversight by Congress: "he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers."
Israel's capital has been back in Jerusalem since 1950. Even if Jerusalem is foolishly redivided in some future deal, Israel's capital will remain in Jerusalem and Hadassah Hospital will remain within Israel's borders. Our executive branch has pretended Jerusalem isn't Israel's capital far longer than it pretended the Nationalist Party governed all of China from Taiwan.
It's long past time for our president to stop pretending. Bowing to reality might even help bring the Palestinian Arabs to their senses and lead them to finally give up their genocidal war on Israel.
Mr. President, put our embassy to Israel in that nation's capital and when Americans are born in Israel, let their passports so state.
Sincerely,
Alan Stein