WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is delaying moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

A 1995 U.S. law recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered that the embassy be relocated there. But the law also permits the president to delay the move for six-month periods, based on national security grounds.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush invoked the clause during their presidencies.

Obama notified Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton of his decision on Thursday. He first delayed moving the embassy in June.

The location of the embassy is a sensitive issue in efforts to negotiate peace in the Middle East.