U.S. Supreme Court Says Jerusalem Is Not Under Israel’s Sovereignty

The United States Supreme Court struck down a law on Monday, which was simultaneously a blow to Israel and a win for U.S. President Barack Obama.

The law was originally passed by Congress in 2002. It said that people born in Jerusalem could list “Israel” as the country of birth on their passports. But the court ruled that only the president can decide which countries are listed on passports and consular birth registries. The president does not recognize Jerusalem as being an official part of Israel. So, his position is to list no country on passports of anyone born in Jerusalem.

The 6-to-3 split ruling represents a win for President Obama, who had said Congress’s law encroached on his executive power. The ruling was also a blow to efforts to strengthen Jerusalem’s status under U.S. law as an undisputed part of Israel.