Candidate Trump promised he’d move America’s embassy to Jerusalem, claiming an “unbreakable bond” and “special (bilateral) relationship.”
An earlier statement on his behalf said he
“acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.”
The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, passed by Congress to relocate America’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the international city, calls Jerusalem an “undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected.”
It urged the executive branch to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move America’s embassy there, calling the city “the spiritual center of Judaism.”
It’s religiously important for Muslims, Christians and Jews. For Zionists, it’s the symbol of Judaism’s revival and prominence. For Christians, it’s where Jesus lived and died.
For Muslims, it’s their third holiest site (location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque) – after Mecca’s Sacred Mosque and Mosque of the Prophet in Madina.
After its 1967 annexation, East Jerusalem underwent legal and bureaucratic changes to its physical, cultural and spiritual character under Israel’s Judaization plan.
Settlements were established and expanded on stolen Palestinian land. Decades of ethnic cleansing, home demolitions, the Separation Wall, and other draconian measures followed, aiming to entirely Judaize the city.
Palestinian culture and religious heritage are threatened by the establishment of “facts on the ground,” a process ongoing for half a century this month.
Trump earlier said Israel wants America’s embassy there.
“Well, I am for that 100%,” he blustered, adding “I will be very good to Israel.”
US and Israeli media reports now say he’s expected to renew the waiver on keeping Washington’s embassy in Tel Aviv before a Thursday midnight deadline – though he still envisions an eventual move, according to unnamed senior White House officials.
His waiver will reportedly delay moving America’s embassy for six months, reconsideration again at that time.
According to an unnamed White House official, relocating America’s embassy to Jerusalem is
“something (he) supports…If he signs a waiver (as expected), that will not be indicative of him reversing his opinion.”
“It will just be a question of timing. It will be when (relocation occurs), not if…Israeli government institutions are in Jerusalem. (The) definition of a capital is where (a) government is headquartered.”
Arab leaders and others warned Trump against making the move, explaining it would incite anti-American hostility throughout the Muslim world more than already.
It would kill another peace process attempt before initiated. Trump administration officials are divided on the move.
Supporters include chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, Trump’s Zionist ambassador to Israel David Friedman and neocon UN envoy Nikki Haley.
Secretary of State Tillerson, Defense Secretary Mattis and National Security Advisor McMaster oppose the move.
On May 25, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee commemorated the 50th anniversary of Israel’s June 1967 Six-Day War (of aggression) and Jerusalem’s reunification under its control – by unanimous bipartisan voice vote.
The action reaffirmed the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, calling the city “the capital of the State of Israel.” Full Senate and House action are expected to follow.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
