On Wednesday 6 December 2017, Donald Trump, President of the United States, reversing nearly seven decades of American foreign policy, got the world agitated by his announcement of American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Hear him:
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.”
He says it’s the “recognition of reality” and “the right thing to do.”
In the reactions that follow, America, largely stands alone.
The Arab world – including US allies are worried the decision would disrupt the road to peace in the Middle East.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounces Trump’s pronouncement as “deplorable”.
The Islamist movement, Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, calls for a “day of rage” on Friday 8 December 2017. Hamas says Trump’s decision would “open the doors of hell” on US interests in the region.
The Saudi royal court says:
“The US move represents a significant decline in efforts to push a peace process and is a violation of the historically neutral American position on Jerusalem.”
Malaysian PM Najib Razak, calls on Muslims everywhere to “make it clear that we strongly oppose” the US move.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, posits it was “a moment of great anxiety”. He says”there is no alternative to the two-state solution”.
British PM Theresa May disagrees with the US decision, which is “unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron donot support the recognition.
EU chief diplomat Federica Mogherini says it’s a “serious concern”.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hails the date of American recognition as “a historic day”. He says Israel is profoundly grateful to President Trump. “Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes, our dreams, our prayers for three millennia,” he tweets.
The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With Trump in the ring, he referees in the interest of his country, concluding it will help attain peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He says he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Trump supports a two-state solution to the longstanding conflict, if approved by both sides. This would essentially see the creation of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.
East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, was annexed by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967. It is the place Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.
Most countries of the world recognize Tel Aviv, where they have their embassies as Israel’s capital. Jerusalem is the home of Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
As the heat rises, Trump’s foreign policy braggadocio, expresses American might. He sparks a renewed struggle in the Middle East, but the Arab world can learn from this and take rejuvenated paths to protect its pride and identity. This also means taking advantage of science and technology for endless innovation. Its about solving the problem of poverty and extremism.
Note:
The US moved her embassy to Jerusalem on 14 May 2018, the 70th Gregorian anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel. For years, American politicians had endorsed Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Jerusalem Embassy Act, passed in 1995, requires the U.S. Embassy to be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Israel says Jerusalem is its capital. The prime minister works and lives there. The Knesset — the parliament of Israel and the Supreme Court of Israel are located there.