WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying dire, worldwide warnings, President Donald Trump on Wednesday broke with decades of U.S. and international policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Despite urgent appeals from Arab and European leaders and the risk of anti-American protests and violence, Trump declared that he was ending an approach that for decades has failed to advance the prospects for peace. He also for the first time personally endorsed the concept of a “two-state solution” for Israel and the Palestinians, provided both sides agree to it.
“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” he said in a White House address, calling it “overdue” and in the best interests of the United States. He said recognition acknowledged the “obvious” that Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government despite the disputed status that is one of the key elements in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“This is nothing more or less than the recognition of reality,” he said.
Trump also directed that the State Department begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as required by U.S. law. Officials said, however, that the move will take years to complete.
Trump maintained that his decision would not compromise the city’s geographic and political borders, which will still be determined by Israel and the Palestinians.
Ahead of Trump’s speech, Arab and Muslim leaders spoke about the potential for violence. In Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian protesters burned American and Israeli flags. They also waved Palestinian flags and banners proclaiming Jerusalem as their “eternal capital,” language that Israelis similarly use for their nation.
Even America’s closest allies in Europe questioned the wisdom of Trump’s radical departure from the past U.S. position, which was studiously neutral over the sovereignty of the city.
Jerusalem includes the holiest ground in Judaism. It’s also home to Islam’s third-holiest shrine and major Christian sites, and any perceived harm to Muslim claims to the city has triggered protests in the past, in the Holy Land and beyond.
America’s consulate in Jerusalem has ordered U.S. personnel and their families to avoid visiting Jerusalem’s Old City or the West Bank, and urged American citizens in general to avoid places with increased police or military presence.
If anyone so much as trips and falls as a result of this, it rests solely with this despicable, unfit, unqualified racist birther asshole.
Has Congress ponied up the money for this, yet? Will the Israelis now demand an additional $3 billion for “security”?
This now creates in intractable problem for the next presidential candidates: “Will you retract this embassy move?”
EVERYTHING THIS SACK OF GARBAGE TOUCHES TURNS TO SHIT.
Gee, wouldn’t be a handy distraction from the Mueller/Deutschbank business would it? It’s certainly not like an active provocation would be really convenient if you needed to get yourself on a war footing post haste.
Does this serve Israel’s interests? Yes. Does this serve the interests of the Palestinians or the wider Arab world? No. Does this serve the interests of peace in the rest of the world? Probably not. Does this serve the interests of the United States? Trump says yes, but I am at a loss to discern what those might be. Does this serve Trump’s narrow political interests? Yes, with certain constituencies only.
Small consolation but he has to do everything he can to ruin the world ASAP because he ain’t going to be around much longer.
Read this letter from Rep. Cummings and then ask yourself, “If Mueller knew about this (which he no doubt did) and let Flynn slide, what does he have on Cockholster, Uday, Jared “Full Metal Jackass” Kushner and Lord knows who else?”
People are currently speculating that he’s huddled in the White House as we speak trying to figure out what to do about his “Mueller problem.”
Make me wonder who’s more fucked right now: the World or the Melon Menace?
This is just another provocation that Trump is using to bring war to the Middle East. Consider that Saudi Arabia is now going full out to oppose Iran, Israel has been send rockets into Syria to keep weapons from Hezbollah, Pompeo to State and Moron Cotton to the CIA. Troops already in Iraq and Syria, as well as many countries in the Middle East and Africa. Israel has been pushing for this confrontation and when Trump was elected they saw there chance to get the Americans to start the war they need to demolish Iran. Anyone want to take bets that we are in another Mid East war in a year?