Israel will keep its consulate in Philadelphia after all.
Mayor Nutter received a letter from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman saying that the country will be keeping the office open, despite rumors that it was on the chopping block, the administration announced today.
Israel has consulates in New York City and Washington, D.C. It was rumored that the country was going to close the Philadelphia office to make room in its budget for a new one in China.
While on a trade mission to Israel last month, Nutter met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres and said he urged both men to maintain the office.
Philadelphia members of Congress and both of Pennsylvania's senators had also called on Israel to keep the consulate open.