- Welcome to, "The 700 Club."

There's a huge red flagcoming from the White House.

The Biden administration wants to reopen

the consulate forPalestinians in Jerusalem.

This move could signal the first step

towards dividing Israel'scapital city once again.

- The move would also be a major triumph

for the Palestinians.

So how has Israel responded so far?

Chris Mitchell brings us the details.

(wind whooshing)

- When the U.S. says it wants to reopen

a consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem,

Israeli leaders say, "Not on our watch."

The building behind me served

as an American diplomaticmission for more than 100 years.

In 2017, the United Statesrecognized Jerusalem

as Israel's capital,and the following year,

moved its embassy to the city.

In 2019, the Trump administration

merged the consulate with the embassy.

U.S. Secretary of StateAntony Blinken says,

"It's time to change that."

- The United States will be moving forward

with the process to reopenour consulate in Jerusalem.

That's an important way forour country to engage with,

and provide support tothe Palestinian people.

- [Chris] The proposed action

would reestablish theconsulate in Jerusalem,

independent of the U.S. Embassy,an ambassador to Israel.

Professor Eugene Kontorovich says

such action would be a bigvictory for the Palestinians.

- It's a sign to the Palestinians

that America recognizesPalestinian claims to Jerusalem.

Instead of recognizing Israelas Jerusalem's capital,

they're putting a question mark on that.

- [Chris] Palestinian authority,

Prime Minister MuhammadShtayyeh welcomes the move,

and that message.

- [Interpreter] The messagefrom this administration

is that Jerusalem isn't one city,

and that the Americanadministration does not recognize

the annexation of ArabJerusalem by the Israeli side.

We want the American Consulate

to constitute the seed of a U.S. Embassy

in the state of Palestine.

- [Chris] Danny Danon, formerIsraeli ambassador to the UN,

calls the decision, "Unnecessary."

- If they want to provideservices for the Palestinians,

they can do it in Ramallah,in Jericho, in Nablus,

in many other locations.

The U.S. decided to movethe embassy to Jerusalem,

and I think we should all respect it.

- The Biden administration

can't reverse therecognition of Jerusalem,

because it's too bipartisan and popular.

What they're trying to do isjust partially reverse it,

or turn back the clock, to how things were

before America recognizedJerusalem as Israel's capital.

- [Chris] In 1995, Congress passed

the Jerusalem Embassy Act,

calling for the city to be recognized

as Israel's undivided capitol,

and to move the U.S. Embassy there.

It allowed the president, however,

to invoke a security waiverto postpone the move,

and beginning with BillClinton, each president did,

until President Trump.

Senators James Lankford, Bill Hagerty,

and other leading Republican senators

have introduced a bill to protect

the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act.

In a statement, Lankford says their bill,

"Ensures futureadministrations uphold the law

by keeping our embassy in Jerusalem,

and preventing other U.S. consular posts

from being established in Jerusalem.

Biden's intentions to ignore existing law

does not bring the region closer to peace.

It only undermines ourrecognition of Jerusalem

as the capital of Israel."

Under international law,professor Kontorovich says,

"Israel can legally stop the move,

although the state departmentis pressuring it to give in."

Some would say, "While theU.S. calls Israel a friend,

its actions indicate otherwise."

- There's no other countrywhere the United States

tries to coerce them tohave a diplomatic mission,

to a foreign entity, ahostile foreign entity,

in their capitol.

- Well, Chris Mitchell is nowlive with us from Jerusalem.

So Chris, is this the start of a move

toward re dividing Jerusalem?

- Well, that's what a lot ofIsraelis are concerned about.

Short-term, it would actually reverse

what President Trump did in 2019,

but it would also legitimize

a Palestinian claim to Jerusalem.

That's what the Palestinianprime minister said.

Long-term, Israelis areconcerned it could lead

to the reversal of the 1967 Six-Day War,

you know, Gordon, whenIsrael reunified the city

for the first time inmore than 2,000 years,

and they're concerned thatthat would divide the city.

Nir Barkat, he's Jerusalem's former mayor,

now he's a Knesset member,

he's introduced legislationto make it against the law

to recognize any consulatethat Israel doesn't permit.

He says nearly 75% ofIsraelis are against this.

And he's also lobbiedU.S. lawmakers this summer

about this issue.

And on the other hand,Prime Minister Bennett,

he also is against this, andhe talked about it with Biden

when they met just in August.

- I've gotta ask, isn'tthis against the law?

I mean, the 1995 act thatyou pointed out in the piece,

established that Jerusalem

is the undivided capital of Israel.

Isn't this a move against that law?

- It is, it does seem, andseemingly Lankford and Hagerty,

and other Republicansenators, wanna codify that,

even though the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act

makes that law as well.

So, you know what PresidentTrump did two years ago,

when he recognized Jerusalemas Israel's capital,

and moved the embassy,just like the act says,

this would actually reversethat right now, if they do that.

It seems like they're going to wait,

the U.S. that is, 'til probablythe middle of November.

That's when the current Israeli government

will be able to pass a government,

if they don't pass, I'm sorry, a budget.

If they don't pass a budget,the government will fall.

But the U.S. apparently isgonna wait 'til after that,

and then perhaps more pressure

is gonna be put on thegovernment right now

to put this consulate back in Jerusalem.

- Well, let's talk about themoves that Israel can do.

I never thought I'd read

the 1963 Vienna Conventionon Consular Relations,

but it seems to establishthat any sovereign state

has the right to approveconsular activities

within their country, soJerusalem is part of Israel.

Doesn't Israel have the legal right,

under internationallaw, to stop this move?

- It does, and Gordon,they can just say, "No."

As you said, the 1963 Vienna Convention

allows countries, sovereign countries,

to allow, or disallow, or refuse consulars

in their capital, or within their borders.

But as I said, the U.S. right now

is pressuring Israel togo ahead and do that.

We don't know whatexactly the pressure is.

And as I said, they may bewaiting 'til next month,

after Israel presumably passes its budget.

But the legislation byLankford and Hagerty

is an attempt to make surethe U.S. doesn't succeed

in pressuring Israel.

But Israel has the right,has the legal right

under international law to say, "No."

It just remains to be seenwhether Biden and Blinken

are gonna try to dividethe city of Jerusalem,

and legitimize thePalestinian claim to the city.

- I assume Naftali Bennett understands

how tenuous his coalition is.

If he were to approve this,wouldn't it essentially end

that governing coalition?

- It very well may do that Gordon,

because on the right side,

you have parties likehis own party, Yamina.

You have Blue and Whiteas well, more center,

but you have other right-wing parties

that may leave the government

if they go ahead and do that.

Now, Nir Barkat, he's inLikud, he's in the opposition,

but certainly there's enoughof this fragile coalition

on the right hand ofthe political spectrum,

to perhaps make this government fall,

in case they go aheadand do allow the U.S.

to have a consulate here in Jerusalem.

It's just a few blocksaway from the bureau,

where we are right now.

And that would really,really change the dynamic

of the U.S. Israeli relations,

if the U.S. pressures Israelto go ahead and do that.

And as you said, it's reallyputting Prime Minister Bennett

in a very difficult political situation,

if he was pressured togo ahead and do that.

- Now Chris, thanks for thereport, thanks for the insights.

And let me remindeveryone, this isn't new.

Let's go back in history,all the way back to 1982.

There was a Senator whowas named Joe Biden,

and what he did is onthe floor of the Senate,

he threatened to cut off aid to Israel,

if the Israeli governmentwouldn't go along

with his view of what they should do.

So here's the quote that came back to him.

"Don't threaten us withcutting off your aid.

It will not work.

I am not a Jew with trembling knees.

I am a proud Jew, with 3,700years of civilized history.

Nobody came to our aid

when we were dying in thegas chambers and ovens.

Nobody came to our aid

when we were strivingto create our country.

We paid for it. We fought for it.

We died for it.

We will stand by our principles.

We will defend them.

And when necessary, wewill die for them again,

with or without your aid."

Those were the words of Menachem Begin,

to then Senator Joseph Biden in 1982.

Biden certainly hasn't changed his view.

He thinks he can bully Israel

into complying with his wishes.

And I urge the current Israeli government,

and any future Israeli government,

realize where your help comes from.

It doesn't come from the United States.

It comes from the Rockof Israel, God Almighty.

Well, in other news, afailure for President Biden.

Despite months of negotiations,Democrats in Congress

still can't work out a deal

on the president's big spending plan.

Jennifer Wishon has that story.

(wind whooshing)

- President Biden's personalplea to House Democrats

to pass a signature piece ofhis stalled domestic agenda,

has for now fallen on deaf ears.

Overnight, the presidenttouching down in Rome,

where he'll meet with the Pope,

and kick off a five-day foreign trip,

but without the political featherin his hat he'd hoped for.

- Too many no votes for the vote to pass.

- [Jennifer] The House failing Thursday

to even vote on the infrastructure bill,

already approved by the Senate,

despite the White Housereleasing a framework

on the president's big social spending

and climate change bill, asprogressives have demanded

before passing infrastructure.

The commander in chiefgoing to Capitol Hill,

appealing to Democrats in person.

And according to Bloomberg,telling house Democrats

their future hangs in the balance,

saying, "I don't think it's hyperbole

to say that the Houseand Senate majorities,

and my presidency, will bedetermined by what happens

in the next week."

Speaker Pelosi delivering her own message.

- Do not embarrass the president,

by when I put this on theHouse floor, to not vote for.

Basically, it's gotta pass,

we don't want to embarrass thepresident when he's overseas.

That's kinda what it's come down to.

It's a clown car, kind ofall over the place right now.

- [Jennifer] Following demandsfrom Senators Joe Manchin,

and Kyrsten Sinema, thepresident's spending plan

basically cut in half,from 3 1/2 trillion,

to 1.75 over 10 years.

- This framework includeshistoric investments

in our nation and in our people.

- [Jennifer] It includes half a trillion

to fight climate change, universal pre-K,

extends the child tax credit for a year,

and Democrats say willreduce healthcare premiums.

But dropped from the final outline,

major programs likefree community college,

and paid family leave, leavingprogressive's shellshocked.

- We put paid leave in,it's in, it's in it's in,

and then all of a suddenat the last minute,

somebody said it's out.

- It has some major gaps in it.

- I felt a little bamboozled,

because this was not whatI thought was coming today.

- Democrats are still working out

how to pay for the new spending,

looking at proposed newtaxes on businesses,

including a 15% minimum formany large corporations,

and on profits earned byU.S. companies abroad.

Americans making more than 10million annually will be hit.

And IRS tax enforcement will be increased.

But critics doubt thosenew taxes will be enough.

Brian Riedl, with theManhattan Institute, tweeting,

"Calling today's framework'Paid for' is so dishonest,"

estimating 2 trillion in hidden costs.

The big question, will thenew government programs

cost more than advertised?

And will tax hikes bring in as much money

as Washington needs?

If not, federal deficits could rise

even higher than expectedin the coming years.

Jennifer Wishon, "CBN News."

- Oh, this is going to endup being a colossal failure.

And you look at it, andyou go, "How in the world

can you squander a governing majority?"

Well, the answer is theDemocrats aren't aligned,

and they aren't in agreement.

There are different wings,with different agendas,

progressives trying to forcethis socialist utopia on us,

people trying to holdthe line on spending,

and it's just a complete mess.

And what David Brody said isso true, "It's a clown car."

Let's go back last yearto a presidential debate,

and Joe Biden accused a sittingpresident of being a clown.

I have to ask the question,who's the clown now?