American and Israeli delegations are celebrating the opening of the new United States Embassy in Jerusalem.
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump led the American delegation, which also included the treasury secretary and four Republican senators.
In a video message, President Donald Trump said the new embassy will help continue to facilitate a lasting peace agreement.
News 12 spoke with a rabbi and Palestinian-American about their thoughts on the move. Rabbi Greg Wall, of Beit Chaverim Synagogue in Westport, says the U.S. recognizing the move formally takes it off the table as a bargaining chip in any future peace process. He says moving the embassy is a strong place to start the peace process.
Faisel Saleh, founder of the Palestinian Museum in Woodbrige, told News 12 that in the past, the U.S. has played an important role in trying to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He says the U.S. had been seen as an honest broker and a neutral third party that was in a good position to influence the progress of peace. He says the U.S. is now disqualified from that position.
Despite their differences of opinion on the administration's latest move, both men appeared to share similar hopes for a long-lasting peace to one day come to the region.
The opening of the embassy happened just a day after Israel celebrated Jerusalem Day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the alliance between the U.S. and Israel is "stronger than ever."