US passports to list ‘Israel’ for birth in Jerusalem

WASHINGTON: The United States said Thursday that its citizens born in Jerusalem will be able to list Israel as their place of birth, after President Donald Trump recognized the contested holy city as the Jewish state’s capital.

Until now, Americans born in the city had simply “Jerusalem” listed in their passports without specifying the country. Effectively immediately, Jerusalem-born Americans can elect to state Israel but otherwise their passports would still say only Jerusalem — an option sure to be preferred by many from the city’s predominantly Palestinian eastern part.