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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOK. I'm a little dense. Why is recognizing Jerusalem as capital so terrible?
Can someone explain it so even I can understand.
CTyankee
(63,914 posts)Trump is again playing to a very small RW base...Google might help both of us understand it better...
former9thward
(32,106 posts)Not just right wing ones. A nation has a right to determine where its government does its business. Th capital of Israel is Jerusalem. That is where the government sits. If someone says Jerusalem is not the capital then where is it? Is Israel the only nation on earth without a capital?
CTyankee
(63,914 posts)Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)There are areas that Israel has taken by force and are the reason for the controversy.
Recognizing the change in capitol backs Israel's position over the Palestinian's. That Israel has declared Jerusalem as capitol is not controversial in and of itself.
maveric
(16,446 posts)I now have a clear picture as to why.
Alea
(706 posts)Even though giving Jerusalem, or part of it to Israel was not part of the UN General Assembly partition plan of 1947, it doesn't mean Israel has no legitimate claim on Jerusalem now.
Israel did not fight a war of aggression to conquer the land it took/annexed in 1967. 5 Arab neighbors - Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon, supported by Algeria, Kuwait, Morocco, Libya, Pakistan, Tunisia, Sudan, and PLO, waged a War of Annihilation against Israel. It was also basically a sneak attack, and was meant to rid the region of Israel.
The Arab attackers lost, and they lost badly, and to the victor go the spoils. In this case however, Israel only kept or annexed small areas of land, including part of Jerusalem, compared to keeping everything. It may suck for the losers but at least they got to keep their Countries. THEN, some of the same players tried to do the same damn thing in 1973, and lost.
This should never be forgotten when people talk about how mean ole Israel just took other peoples land.
With that said, I really don't know if we should move our Embassy to Jerusalem. Seems like adding fuel to the flames in regards to the Palestinian issues.
Edited for: sp/smart phone auto-correct not being smart
marybourg
(12,643 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)It certainly wont help anyone's argument if the Muslims do what donnie expects and resort to violent protest. It'll give him all the ammo he needs.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)and driving out Palestinians as it creates illegal settlements.
Plus, a tiny, tiny point, but in the interest of historical accuracy, actually Israeli forces attacked first. The so-called pre-emptive self-defense move.
Glad to help you out here with the history.
Alea
(706 posts)I hope you're not suggesting that makes them the aggressor. When your intel assets tell you all 5 of your neighbors are about to try and kill you, you would be wise to do whatever it takes to stop it.
It wasn't a "so called pre-emptive strike" It was a pre-emptive strike. You say "so called" as if it wasn't fair or something.
They are also under no obligation to give any land back, but yet they have given some back.
Did you miss the part about about their neighbors waging a War of Annihilation against them. They weren't coming to give them a black eye or teach them a lesson. They were coming to wipe them out.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Occupying powers may not resettle their own citizens on occupied land. That is called theft.
Alea
(706 posts)the people of Israel live surrounded by bordering countries, with the exception of Jordan and maybe Egypt, that openly call for their destruction every day. The World Court and the UN like to gloss over the fact that in 1967 all of their neighbors tried to wipe them off the map. The World Court and the UN just wants peace in the region, and since they can't get the Palestinians to do anything peaceful or give one inch, they hope Israel will. Israel has given some land back, they have also withdrawn from some settlements, only to be met with more violence from the Palestinians.
So yes, the Israelis tell the World Court and the UN to stick it. Maybe they will play by International Law when their neighbors stop trying to kill them and stop calling for their destruction.
Funny how the World Court hasn't told America to give back our Country to the Native Americans. If they did, I doubt we would abide by their ruling. Not for the same reasons as Israel, but surely we would tell the WC and the UN to stick it.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Settlement activity has increased, as has land theft and appropriation of water access.
All part of winning hearts and minds.
Plus, there as no concept of International Law, or a World Court, ot a UN when the US was conducting its land theft and attempted genocide.
Alea
(706 posts)I've just heard that Sen Franken has resigned and I'm pretty torn up about it. I've said all I can say on this subject.
One thing I will note - You have had a long discussion with a new member with a low post count and have not resorted to calling me a russian troll bot, so I thank you for that. That comes from my heart, not being a smart ass.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)I responded only to the content of your post. A well written post, by the way, even if we obviously disagree.
Welcome to DU, and have a good day in spite of the depressing news about Al Franken. We agree on that.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)Christians, Jews and Muslims lay claim to Jerusalem. Israel can't have it all. Period.
Alea
(706 posts)and waged a War of Annihilation against Israel. Also, when Jordan controlled Jerusalem they gave no access to Israel. After the 1967 war, Israel gained control but kept it open to Christians, Jews and Muslims. How far backward should Israel bend to give back land they seized from countries that tried to destroy them twice in 6 years.
You either don't know your history or you do, and don't care, or you're being revisionist based on agenda, however, since you used "period" at the end of your statement, I'll back off and let you think you're right.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Those who ignore actual history win. They're not right and I will fight them every day if I have to. They should have taken the state offered 70 years ago and it's nobody's fault but their own that they don't have their own state.
Mariana
(14,861 posts)Are you seriously blaming the people alive today for a bad decision made by their grandparents and great grandparents?
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)them from learning from their history and cutting out the violence so actually they're even worse. Call me crazy but I don't think rewarding violence is a good idea. Neither is electing a terrorist organization as your leaders. Neither is blaming Israel for all your problems when your own leaders think it's more important to buy weapons and build tunnels than take care of their own people. The only thing Palestinians are victims of is people who continue to tell them just wait a little longer, don't change a thing, you'll get that state any day now - people who use the Palestinians as pawns.
It happens every day in this Country. Everyone having anything to do with the treatment of Native Americans over a hundred years ago is dead. Everyone that had anything to do with slavery, owned slaves, or brought slavery to this Country are dead, but we are still trying to hold people, or a certain class of people accountable for it.
It is what it is. You're not implying our own Constitution could be invalid because the people that drafted it, signed it, and ratified it are dead, are you?
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)we have nothing to say. Check YOUR knowledge of history - and not some bullshit in the "bible".
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Sitting a JFK cafe right now waiting for a connection. Infound the people frinedly courteous, generous, and mostly right wing. They were shocked that I am and my colleagues despise Trump. One even told me he thought everybody in the USA loves Trump.
And most have nothing but disdain for the Palestinians and Arab Israelis defintely occupy a lower rung on the societal ladder.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)has become.
Alea
(706 posts)ClarendonDem
(720 posts)And well-reasoned arguments on this issue.
karynnj
(59,507 posts)Last edited Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:51 AM - Edit history (2)
West Jerusalem which is a relatively newer area is on the Israeli side of the green line (ie in the area that was Israel before 1967). However, there have been arguments for decades on the status of East Jerusalem, the home of about 300,000 Palestinians. To add additional complications, the walled city of antiquity is in East Jerusalem.
The UN, Europe, the Arab nations and .. past US administrations knew that Jerusalem would be the toughest issue and it was to be determined as part of a peace solution. Most plans, including the outline Kerry put out in 2016, called for BOTH the Palestinians and Israel to have their capitals in Jerusalem. A solution would be needed for the area sacred to all three religions. Obviously, a framework is easier than an actual deal.
Trump actually was very ambiguous. He did not say a UNIFIED Jerusalem - nor did he specify just West Jerusalem. So, you have people on each side - ecstatic assuming one meaning and disappointed or furious if assuming the other. In addition, it seems that the Trump administration thought Saudi Arabia was ok with it - when it seems they are not.
So, this is an action that can spark violence and accomplishes nothing real. The Knesset has long been in West Jerusalem as have other government buildings. The US embassy is still in Tel Aviv -- and they are just starting the process of picking a cite and building a US embassy in Jerusalem -- almost surely in West Jerusalem. If Trump loses in 2020 -- it is not clear it would even be built unless it is less controversial in the Middle East.
One thing that pundits have said might be hurt is the Trump administration's peace process. The thought is that making this statement means they will not be seen as honest brokers. My question is with the two people leading it, Trump's real estate layer and Jared Kushner, both being linked to large contributions to illegal settlements -- and the ambassador being to the right of Netanayahu, did ANYONE really see them as neutral or honest brokers?
One thing it might do is completely close any window that liberals hoped existed for a genuine two state solution with a viable contiguous Palestinian state. Oddly, what it might be is the first step to a binational one state -- and the fight will be whether all people have citizenship and rights.
Calista241
(5,586 posts)And what they really believe. Right now, theyve got their own internal beef in the Royal family, and theyre fighting a pretty significant war in Yemen. Theyve also got this political row with Lebanon going on.
I suspect they could really give 2 shits what happens to the Palestinians.
karynnj
(59,507 posts)Not to mention, they see their Yemen and Lebanon problems as part of their fight with Iran.
treestar
(82,383 posts)No one said it has no right to a capital. Geez. It's not that simple.
former9thward
(32,106 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)to pick another city. All 3 Abrahamic religions have a thing for Jerusalem. Maybe it should be international (I've seen that proposed).
former9thward
(32,106 posts)It is much more central than DC. But we have chosen DC. Israel has chosen Jerusalem as their capital and that is their choice. In 1947 the UN proposed Jerusalem as a neutral city. But the Arabs would have none of it. They seized east Jerusalem and forbid Jews and Christians from visiting holy sites. Israel took it back in 1967 and since then has allowed access to all the holy sites to the three religions. Jerusalem is where the Israeli government sits and any government which wishes to have relations with Israel should respect that.
blogslut
(38,021 posts)It's kind of the whole crux of the decades long violence in that area of the world.
Mike Nelson
(9,975 posts)...symbolic, I think... not an expert. It's a "holy" place for the big three religions. When you get into the religious stuff, it's not always easy to make sense and understand the levels of concern.
mercuryblues
(14,550 posts)gave that region to various religions as theirs. Then told them to fight over it to keep it.
Now even though teabangelicals hate Jews, they deem them necessary, according to scripture, to bring about the rapture. On that day they say Jews will convert to the 1 true religion and rapture. If not, they will burn forever in Hell.
Mike Nelson
(9,975 posts)...that most of those who are "for Israel" are not really pro-Israel. They want the "holy lands" for Israel because they believe Christians are destined to take over the entire area; at that time, Jews can convert or leave. I think most Jewish people know this - my friends do, anyway.
Mike Nelson
(9,975 posts)... "those" who are of Trump's ilk.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Not pro Jewish. Jews know the difference.
Mike Nelson
(9,975 posts)...for giving me a more simple way to make that point... that works.
arthritisR_US
(7,300 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)truly dislike them huh. Jews killed Jesus in the outskirts of Jerusalem (Gologtha). The insane Christians have plans for Jerusalem and it don't include them.
Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)And the fulfillment of the prophecies.
It was stated long ago that Trump agreed to help them build it.
You cannot separate the religious from the political motives here.
Response to maveric (Original post)
Proud Liberal Dem This message was self-deleted by its author.
former9thward
(32,106 posts)Following the creation of Israel, Jordan seized east Jerusalem and refused to allow Jews access to holy sites. This went on until 1967 when Israel seized east Jerusalem in the 6 day war. Since then Israel has allowed access to holy sites by Christians, Jews and followers of Islam.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)for sharing this actual history. Those who expect Israel to constantly give their enemies another do-over work my last nerve. That the chances that the upcoming protests will be violent are so high, just pisses me off more They're playing right into donnie's hands.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)Their game has been evident for years: illegal settlements...facts on the ground.
Yuck.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)another that think Israel needs to provide endless do overs for those who seek their destruction. They should have taken the state they were given 70 years ago instead of believing their corrupt leaders who would rather buy weapons and build tunnels than take care of their people and line their own pockets. I suppose they could continue using violence, I mean, it's gone so swimmingly so far for them. Maybe if you stopped thinking of them as mindless children who have no control over their own behavior, they would be much further along. The apartheid nonsense is laughable since Palestinians sit in their house of government and all citizens vote. You have made that word lose all meaning.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts).
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)YOU wrote. Only about apartheid and stealing land, NOTHING about how the Palestinians have worked against their own interests. Feel free to enlighten me...or not...your choice.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)had their land and livelihoods stolen and destroyed.
It makes me feel such sorrow. The inhumanity.
Maeve
(42,300 posts)Basically the Palestinians still want East jerusalem to be THEIR capital in a Palestinian state. Declaring the city as capital of Israel negates that possibility and appears to be taking the side of Israel. The rest of the world uses Tel Aviv for their embassies.
edited to add a link: http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/05/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-explainer-intl/index.html
Calista241
(5,586 posts)All of the frameworks for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have contained plans for both capitals to be in Jerusalem. Even John Kerry while he was Secretary of State proposed that idea.
Maeve
(42,300 posts)Just listened to him talking on BBC Radio and he said that the city will never be divided now as it has always been the property of the Jewish people (not Israeli, but Jewish, his words not mine) and this step by tRump acknowledges that. When asked about the 1/3 of the city that are Palestinian, he brushed that aside as unimportant and repeated that it was given to the Jewish people. He also said every faith is welcome, but denied that anyone had lost residency papers when asked pointedly about those reports from a BBC person on the ground.
Overall, it would appear that the US is no longer an even-handed broker in the discussion, having unilaterally chosen a side in this major debate. Maybe it will work out, but there is already a call for another intifada. Not the best time to book a tour of the Holy Land.
Dem_4_Life
(1,765 posts)The way I understand it is basically to just get in the middle of Muslim vs. Jewish vs. Christians in the area but if someone can explain more that would be helpful too.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)expert at all. That's just the way I see it too. And when you get into religious stuff, it gets super-emotional.
enough
(13,265 posts)Another way Trump will get us Killed: to move US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
By Juan Cole | Dec. 6, 2017 |
The White House says that the US is preparing to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize that city as Israels capital instead of Tel Aviv. It is calling this move a recognition of reality. It is not, it is the creation of a deadly and dreary reality that will get Americans blown up. Trump is doing this for his evangelical base and for billionaire campaign backers like Sheldon Adelson. The latter have tunnel blindness and cant see the world as it is dangerous for the rest of us because of their hobbies.
In international law, Israel does not have a right to all of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was not even awarded to Israel by the UN General Assembly partition plan of 1947 (a plan that itself has little legal grounding since the UN executive is instead the Security Council).
Israel conquered most of Jerusalem and its hinterlands in 1967. It then annexed these regions in a quite illegal move. Occupying powers are not allowed to annex occupied territory, by the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions (which were enacted to discourage people from acting like Nazis). The disposition of Jerusalem in the law should depend on final status negotiations between Israel and the state of Palestine.
The reason that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian West Bank has gone on for decades and become so distorted as to be illegal is that the United States wants it this way. Washington power elites treat Israel like a big aircraft carrier in the Middle East, a way to continue to dominate the region after decolonization.
MORE AT LINK
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)have no choice but to resort to violence (no surprise cole wont even mention this) at this stunt. Heaven forbid they protest peacefully and prove donnie wrong about them.
bdamomma
(63,940 posts)Israel says to the US regime government, if you do this your embassy is not welcomed?
Fozzledick
(3,860 posts)He used to be pretty good at analyzing the internal politics of Arab governments despite his fanatic hatred of Israel, but I thought he lost all credibility when he started raving that the real reason that Saudi Arabia opposed Iran's expansionist activities in the region was that they were conspiring with Israel to help them dominate the region.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)But that gets in the way of greed and nationalism and racism.
Peace on earth...good will to ALL men (and women).
R B Garr
(16,998 posts)a construction project for him. He has no concern for the history or the people or even endangering Americans. It's just a way to have a construction project in the form of building a new embassy in Jerusalem. Construction contracts for his pals.
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)Excellent piece.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)And Democrats in general.
Do not listen to his garbage.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)It will certainly foment further unrest and violence in the area (yeah, I know). When more violence breaks out, the Israeli government will almost surely overreact - as they almost always do - and in this instance, there's a very real possibility the violence will spiral out of control. Based on the Trump administration's recognition that the violence is now happening in Israel's capital (and not just a major city riven by competing claims), Netanyahu is going to call on the U.S. to support whatever he decides to do. Will we be able to resist? Will the U.S. be regarded as an honest broker of disputes in the area, now that we have sided with Israel? And not just Israel as a nation, but their hardest hard-liners?
This will damage U.S. prestige, hurt our ability to influence foreign affairs, weaken our credibility, and provide an opening for another major power (hint: It's toward the north, rhymes with "Gusha" and has a leader whose name rhymes with "gluten" ) to increase its presence and influence in the Middle East.
dembotoz
(16,864 posts)the hardliners will say see i told you that you could not trust america....they will turn their back as back Israel
and they will be right
grantcart
(53,061 posts)should not attempt to change its character .
It is a part of the effort to change the racial mix of the city over time.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)Trail of tears?
grantcart
(53,061 posts)chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)forcible removing one group and replacing another. This is more subtle.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)Starve them, move them, kill them.
By any means necessary.
Tavarious Jackson
(1,595 posts)Demsrule86
(68,735 posts)peace negotiations for decades maybe forever.
logosoco
(3,208 posts)At most, it is something where i have to try very hard not to roll my eyes, because I really do not want to offend anyone who sees the world this way. It is a bunch of pretend stuff about how one spot of the earth and some people are different or better or chosen or something. Makes no sense in this day and age to make a political issue out of it, when we need to be concerned with the shape of the ENTIRE planet and anyone who is born here is just as special as anyone else!
If anyone following these religions wants to continue these beliefs, that is fine, but I really wish they would wake up and take a look at the entire planet and see that it is all important and when this stuff makes the front burner we are not taking care of what really needs taking care of.
(My $.02)
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)and have been fighting about it for thousands of years
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,716 posts)Response to DemocratSinceBirth (Reply #28)
grossproffit This message was self-deleted by its author.
grossproffit
(5,591 posts)Lil Missy
(17,865 posts)Last edited Wed Dec 6, 2017, 10:57 PM - Edit history (1)
And the city belongs to Palestine. According to International Law, it is occupied land that belongs to Palestine.
Just some facts, and not intended to start an all out brawl here and now on a message board.
grossproffit
(5,591 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)but this has an ugly, "America is for White Americans!" -vibe to it...
Well, to me at least...
grossproffit
(5,591 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Paris wasn't seized and annexed. It isn't also reasonably claimed by the Germans or Belgians.
At the VERY least you must recognize the political complexities at play here. But fuck peace, I guess.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)grossproffit
(5,591 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Like when the Jordanians occupied the land, Jews were forbidden to pray at their holiest site (and still can't pray on the Temple Mount without risk of beatings or arrest). How about the FACT that Jerusalem isn't nearly as important in Islam as it is in Judaism (not even mentioned in the Koran). How about the FACT that congress already made this declaration in 1995. How about not being able to expect the Palestinians to protest peacefully and instead play right into donnie's hands? How about those FACTS?
R B Garr
(16,998 posts)have a construction project for $$$. There doesn't seem to be much actual policy behind it. There's money to be made in construction there, and everything else is inconsequential and not really an issue for him, except to rile people up as a distraction.
Mosby
(16,390 posts)Maybe you could link to the "international law" that gives Jerusalem to the Arabs.
I'll wait.
Lil Missy
(17,865 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Congress already did it in 1995. It's simply the move of the embassy which donnie STILL isn't doing. He's just trying to rile up his imbecile base with this. It wont help if there is any violence in response to the declaration - it'll play right into donnie's hands.
Initech
(100,114 posts)And the reason Trump is for it is to please his base of the super hardcore apocalypse worshipping ring of Christianity. They believe that Isreal holds the key to bringing about the Rapture.
onenote
(42,796 posts)The difference being that while both the Democratic Party and the repubs asserted that Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel, presidents of both parties always backed away from actually doing anything.
Democratic Party platforms from 2004-2016:
The 2016 party platform: "While Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations, it should remain the capital of Israel, an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths. Israelis deserve security, recognition, and a normal life free from terror and incitement."
The 2012 platform: "Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."
The 2008, platform: "Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."
The 2004 platform: "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."
ClarendonDem
(720 posts)Didn't realize that was the case.
irisblue
(33,040 posts)A tenant of trumps hard core religious right followers. Check wikipedia for Rapture & American Christian Fundamentalism.
BootinUp
(47,207 posts)maveric
(16,446 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)Both Jews and Muslims claim Jerusalem as a religious capital. Chosing a side will enrages the other side.
Not rocket science.
MaryMagdaline
(6,858 posts)Jews. Palestinian clients explained to me many years ago that a sacred city should not be a capitol for Muslims, Jews or Christians.
Historically the West laid claim to Jerusalem and the whole basis of the Crusades was to take back Jerusalem. So, it's a bitter pill of Western domination to see Israel claim it for it's capitol. The Pope is also upset. In recent years Christians and Jews in US are united in favor of Israel and there is significant trust, but not so in Europe.
Jerusalem is an emotional touchstone. Trump is basically tossing aside the emotions of the other parties, especially Muslims. Like US running pipeline on sacred native burial ground but there are many more Muslims in the world to put up resistance. Things will get ugly. The religious people of the world do not want to see bombs in their holy city.
We disregard their emotions at our peril.
Mosby
(16,390 posts)But some people have problems with Jewish history so we try not to upset them.
Same reason we don't want people drawing cartoons of mohammed.
It upsets people .
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)"mount" so, you know, Armageddon and the coming of heaven on earth. Do you remember the big prayer orgy photo in The Oval Office with all the evangelical's greedy thieving greasy hands being laid on their Orange Jesus?
They have advocated this for decades. What is so absurd is that Christ is the Christian Messiah. Jews do not believe he is a Messiah. Ignorant bigots can't comprehend irony.
"The present city is the place from which Jesus will reign, but it will be drastically changed. For example, even when Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives, a huge valley will be created to the north and the south. So the topography of the region will change, but Jerusalem will be exalted among the nations and Jesus will reign."
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Trump just gave away an advantage to deal, for the USA, to pay back his religiously bigoted friends for getting out the vote of the Tea Party deplorables.
MyNameGoesHere
(7,638 posts)The Christians are closer to being rapture now. The jeebus sites are all a gaga now as the prophecy has been fulfilled by their messiah tRump.
Iggo
(47,579 posts)Azathoth
(4,611 posts)This is about Israel formally annexing the parts of East Jerusalem that they occupied in 1967. It's about Israel fulfilling its absurd Biblical warrant to "redeem" all of the Holy Land, and, of course, it's about Israel having total ownership of the Old City, which contains some of the chief holy sites of both Christianity and Islam.
ClarendonDem
(720 posts)Azathoth
(4,611 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,392 posts)Consistent U.S. policy until yesterday was that American recognition of the city as a capital would await an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians on its final status. This also had symbolic value. It said the current situation isnt final. It served as a promissory note for serious negotiations, with the United States as honest broker. It underwrote a sliver of hope for Palestinians in the city. The U.S. position allowed the Palestinian Authority and Muslim countries such as Turkey not to treat the Israeli stance as final. It reminded Israelis not to completely believe their own declarations.
Trumps statement reversed that prior policy, thus reversing all the implications Gorenberg cites there: It undermines the push for serious negotiations, suggests that the United States cannot be an honest broker, reduces the sliver of hope for Palestinians in the city, and encourages the Israeli government recklessly to completely believe their own declarations. None of that is helpful in the long run or in the immediate future for any of the citys actual residents whether theyre Israeli citizens or Palestinian sub-citizens.
Gorenberg worries that this increases the chance of an eruption of violence in Jerusalem and throughout the occupied West Bank. And it does. People with no legal or political status have just been informed that they have even less legal or political recourse than they had a week ago. And when you tell hundreds of thousands of people that they have no legal or political options for protecting their families and their property, the results are obvious and predictable. Deny them any other options, and they will pursue what seems to be the only path that remains. Most of us would likely do the same. (Yes, I know we all like to fantasize that in such a situation we would transform ourselves into some combination of Gene Sharp, Gandhi, and Jeremy Irons in The Mission, but sainthood is rare and mass-sainthood seems a bit much to expect.)
Read more at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2017/12/07/pray-peace-jerusalem/#QEtDpwhKpqfmOBYj.99
The end of the Washington Post article quoted at the beginning of the excerpt above:
In response, Muslim countries will feel obligated to take sharper stands against Israeli control of East Jerusalem and the holy sites. Palestinians in East Jerusalem will feel pressed to oppose Israeli rule more forcefully. Whether or not violence erupts now, Trump has added to Palestinian despair, and despair increases the chance of an eruption. The real symbolism of Trumps statement is that he couldnt care less about the real city of Jerusalem.