The US plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem this May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Friday. The embassy will initially be comprised of the ambassador and limited staff and will be working out of the US consulate in Jerusalem. The US is in the meantime searching for a permanent site for the embassy. The inauguration of the Jerusalem embassy in May seems to be an acceleration of the initial plan that set the date of the move at the end of 2019, Reuters notes.

Meanwhile, Egypt and Hamas have reportedly reached an agreement to ease restrictions on the Rafah border crossing, The Times of Israel says. The agreement would allow more goods to pass between the two sides to improve living conditions in Gaza, but its implementation is contingent on Israeli approval.

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