Kuwait apolgizes to US for rejecting ambassador

Kuwait apologized to the State Department for rejecting a new US ambassador because he had served in Israel. The tiny Gulf nation said it does not wish to harm relations with the US.

A State Department spokesman said the rejection means the post of ambassador to Kuwait will be vacant indefinitely. Kuwait rejected Brandon Grove Jr., who had served as consul general in Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital. The department said having the consul general office in Jerusalem does not imply recognition of Israel's claim to the city as its capital.