U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced his decision to suspend the process of moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for six months.

In a memorandum for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama said the decision was "necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States."

"You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress ... This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this determination and report to the Congress," Obama said.

Given the sensitivity of the status of Jerusalem, former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had suspended the moving of U.S. embassy for numerous times.

Obama had followed his predecessors' move in June and December of 2009.