US ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv sold for $67 million
The State Department has not acknowledged the buyer, reported to be Trump ally and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
The US government sold its ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv for $67 million in July, according to Israeli tax documents.
The revelation adds details to months of questions surrounding the sale of the property, widely seen as part of an attempt by the Donald Trump administration to hamper any future US reversal of the controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The buyer is reportedly American billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a political ally of Trump and vocal supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson is also a major financial supporter of Israeli settlements and of the Birthright program, which invites Jewish young adults to tour the country.
Israeli tax records cited by The Associated Press today revealed that the 1,000-square-meter seaside property, located on Galei Techelet Street in the town of Herzliya outside Tel Aviv, was sold on July 31. The US State Department acknowledged the sale weeks later but mentioned neither the price nor the identity of the buyer.
