Foreign Affairs

Reactions to President Trump recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel

Published

11 months ago

December 6, 2017

Reactions to President Trump recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel

President Trump made it official today. At a Diplomatic Reception room at the White House, the President recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that has been promised by every President other than Barack Obama for decades.

“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said. “This is a long overdue step to advance the peace process…today, we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more, or less, than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.”

This move will be embraced by many on the right and panned by many on the left, though some of the more notable liberals like Senator Chuck Schumer agree with the move.

I’ll put in my final thoughts below, but let’s look at some of the reactions so far…

Perspectives

Promise Kept: Trump Declares a New Era, Officially Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

In his remarks, Trump said the recognition of Jerusalem as the capitol is essential to peace talks moving forward, a message to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

“Jerusalem is not just the heart of three great religions, but it is now also the heart of one of the most successful democracies in the world,” Trump said. “Israel is a sovereign nation with the right, like every other sovereign nation, to determine its own capital.”

Jerusalem Embassy: Trump Fights Global Anti-Semitism

First, sovereign nations are entitled to name their capital, and it is the near-universal practice of other nations to locate their embassies in that same capital. I say “near-universal” because the nations of the world have steadfastly refused to recognize Israel’s capital. They’ve steadfastly placed their embassies outside of Jerusalem. They do so in spite of the Jewish people’s ancient connection to the City of David and in spite of the fact that no conceivable peace settlement would turn over the seat of Israel’s government to Palestinian control — even if parts of East Jerusalem are reserved for a Palestinian capital. Israel’s government sits on Israeli land, and it will remain Israeli land.

Israeli PM Netanyahu praises ‘historic’ decision by President Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Trump’s decision, expressing profound gratitude on behalf of the people of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: @POTUS Trump, thank you for today’s historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful. pic.twitter.com/Z24lSRezYm

Trump Declares Jerusalem the Capitol of Israel

Huge speech and decision. If the Palestinians can have their own capitol, why not Israel? In reality and presently the United States does have a consulate in Jerusalem already. Marine FAST teams (elite security forces) and increased security have already been ordered at most U.S. diplomatic operations in key locations around the world, expecting protests.

Additionally, did you know the Palestinians have an embassy in Washington DC?

BREAKING. SecState Tillerson Announces Process of Moving US Embassy to Jerusalem Will Begin Immediately

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson followed up President Trump’s announcement of the official recognition by the United States of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel with his own newsmaker.

What does this mean? Other than a bunch of guys in stripey pants in Tel Aviv and Foggy Bottom befouling themselves? It’s hard to tell. Any process of moving the embassy to Jerusalem is going to be time consuming. The real estate acquisition will be an issue as Jerusalem is fairly built up and obviously the embassy is not, according to the proclamation, going into East Jerusalem. Design standards for high risk embassies are rather real estate intensive. And construction in and around Jerusalem is frequently delayed by archaeological finds. And we don’t know what “process” Tillerson is envisioning from this statement.

The world REACTS to Trump’s announcement that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

As you might have expected, much of the Middle East and some European countries are not happy with Trump’s decision to change US policy to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Here’s a list of who is saying what:

Jerusalem projects American and Israeli flags on Old City walls in display of appreciation

The Jerusalem municipality projected the American and Israeli flags on the Old City walls Wednesday as Trump announced the U.S. would formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result,” Trump said Wednesday while making the expected announcement. “Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

Reactions

Al Franken is done and probably won't make it through the day. On a brighter note, @realDonaldTrump has become the first and only U.S. @POTUS to have the [bleep] to fulfill what was a 22-year-old promise to Israel. https://t.co/ZMa1gHtNOp

— Richard Baris (@Peoples_Pundit) December 6, 2017

This is a historic day. Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for nearly 70 years. Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes, our dreams, our prayers for three millennia. Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump! 🇮🇱🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mWCUpUMpiC

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 6, 2017

Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, including occupied Palestinian territory, is a reckless threat to peace. The British Government must condemn this dangerous act and work for a just and viable settlement of the conflict.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 6, 2017

Now I'm even more convinced that it was a good idea to move the capital to Jerusalem https://t.co/mOXP4WDCQF

— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) December 6, 2017

Today's recognition of Jerusalem by the USA is a historic event, although we feel we should address what the Palestinians think. So we prepared a statement: pic.twitter.com/IphpaS6RCD

— The Mossad (@TheMossadIL) December 6, 2017

The US puts our embassies in capital cities. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Also, why is the European Union weighing in on where we put our embassy? 🇺🇸 🇮🇱

— Eric Bolling (@ericbolling) December 6, 2017

It seems to me like a lot of people objecting to recognizing Jerusalem (recognizing, not declaring!) are just mad because the wrong people (read: Jews and Christians) like it.

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) December 6, 2017

Final Thoughts

I’ve been a vocal opponent to the President, but I’ve also been fair. When he does the right things, I have no problem pointing them out. This is one of those things. Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right to determine where its capital is. That the U.S. and most of the world has denied them this right is a travesty. Now, the President has made things right.

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2 Comments

Mark Anthony V. Miana

April 1, 2018 at 7:50 am

🇵🇭🇮🇱 Yes to Philippine Embassy move to Jerusalem as the Real Capital of Israel ! God Yahweh Bless ✡ Israel & Philippines †

Reply
Mark Anthony V. Miana

April 1, 2018 at 7:53 am

God Bless United States of America 🙂 The Only Nation that declare Jerusalem the Capital of Israel…
We the Filipino People support President.Trump of U.S.A.

Reply

Conspiracy Theory

Russian meddling is about dividing us, not helping Trump

Published

1 day ago

October 19, 2018

JD Rucker

Russian meddling is about dividing us not helping Trump

Russia is meddling with our elections. They’re meddling with our entire political system. They’re meddling in our culture, freedoms, and methods of communication. I once believed they were trying to help Donald Trump become President. Now I realize they are simply elements of chaos.

Today’s report of charges filed against a Russian agent working against American interests is striking for two reasons. First, the details they’ve been able to uncover about “Project Lakhta” are astounding. Second, their strategic goal was NOT to get one person or one party into office but to sow division among the American people regardless of their political ideology.

First charge filed against Russian for interfering with elections

“The strategic goal of this alleged conspiracy, which continues to this day, is to sow discord in the U.S. political system and to undermine faith in our democratic institutions,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case demonstrates that federal law enforcement authorities will work aggressively to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of unlawful foreign influence activities whenever feasible, and that we will not stand by idly while foreign actors obstruct the lawful functions of our government. I want to thank the agents and prosecutors for their determined work on this case.”

Russia didn’t want Trump or Clinton to be President. They didn’t really care who won. All they wanted and continue to want is that no matter who wins any given election, the opposition will be so hateful about the loss that they’re willing to act out more aggressively than they otherwise would have normally.

It’s finally becoming clear that Russia’s plan is much more subverted and, frankly, ingenious than anything mainstream media or the Democrats could have ever fathomed.

They are taking advantage of our freedom of speech and the technology that allows that speech to reach the masses. They’re theory is that if they can get people on both sides of the political spectrum to voice their opinions with hate rather than understanding, it will spread. Those who have practiced thoughtful debate are now becoming raving ranters. Those who once argued their points thoughtfully are now becoming trolls.

Russia is not the only negative actor in this and the trends were already pointing to this divisiveness taking hold and spreading like a virus well before Project Lakhta was conceived, but they have definitely added to the cacophony and harnessed our vilest emotional responses to be used against us.

Their goal is to push as many people towards the fringes as possible. They want the far-left and the far-right to grow. They want debates to turn into arguments, then arguments to turn into blind rage. From there, they speculated that we would be the initiators of our own destruction.

They may be right.

From the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation debacle to the illegal immigration debate to anything that has to do with gun rights, Americans on both sides of the aisle are becoming more passionate. That’s leading many to become unhinged. When enough people are unhinged, any hopes of civil discourse can be forgotten. We are getting to the point where we no longer discuss our differences. We simply try to shout our perspectives louder than those opposed to us.

The left is the easier target. I’m not just saying that as a conservative. I say that because their position on issues make it easier for them to be emotional when news breaks about an event important to them. This is why those who blame racism for everything are not only seeing racism in every aspect of American life but are feeling justified in practicing their own versions of racism.

We now see that Russia’s goal wasn’t to get Trump elected. It was to make one side or the other absolutely hate the outcome regardless of who won. They aren’t pushing a political agenda. They’re pushing a cultural apocalypse.

Foreign Affairs

First charge filed against Russian for interfering with elections

Published

1 day ago

October 19, 2018

Jesseb Shiloh

First charge filed against Russian for interfering with elections

Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova is allegedly part of Project Lakhta, a Russian operation intended to sow political division ahead of the midterm elections as well as other elections around the world. She has been charged by the Justice Department for interfering with the United States political system.

Here is the press release from the DOJ:

Russian National Charged with Interfering in U.S. Political System

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, 44, of St. Petersburg, Russia, served as the chief accountant of “Project Lakhta,” a Russian umbrella effort funded by Russian oligarch Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin and two companies he controls, Concord Management and Consulting LLC, and Concord Catering. Project Lakhta includes multiple components, some involving domestic audiences within the Russian Federation and others targeting foreign audiences in the United States, members of the European Union, and Ukraine, among others.

My Take

This story will be spun from its surface assertion of Russian interference helping President Trump and other Republicans win in 2016. That assertion is inaccurate as the DOJ release indicates, but it won’t stop mainstream and leftist media from calling this the smoking gun against Trump’s presidency.

What this project allegedly did was push forth divisive messaging that was intended to affect people on both sides of the political aisle. This is important to understand because it wasn’t intended to drive one candidate or another. It was designed to take whatever political position any given person has and amplify their anger towards the opposing side.

Russia knows if they push the far right further to the right and the far left further to the left, our own anger will fuel the division. They are taken advantage of our freedom.

Foreign Affairs

J.J. McCullough tells the grim truth about Saudi Arabia

Published

4 days ago

October 16, 2018

CQ Livingston

JJ McCollough tells the grim truth about Saudi Arabia

America needs Saudi Arabia just as Saudi Arabia needs America. Few can argue that the symbiotic relationship is based solely on need and not any genuine goodwill towards each other. Quietly, they think we’re evil and that we meddle too much in other nations’ affairs. A little less quietly, we think their traditions are antiquated and their human rights violations are only tolerable because of the source.

We both see each other as evils. The problem is we both know we’re each other’s necessary evils.

I would contend that the relationship, as fruitful as it has been for decades, is so wrought with contention today that it can no longer be viewed as necessary.

The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi is getting journalists such as National Review’s J.J. McCullough to speak out against the Kingdom.

Jamal Khashoggi Disappearance & Saudi Arabian Society’s Immaturity

The sad reality is that Saudi Arabia will remain a U.S. ally regardless of how deep and disturbing Riyadh’s involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is ultimately revealed to be. As Matthew Continetti recently emphasized, there are certain geopolitical realities — in particular the cold war with Iran — that make the Saudi–American alliance a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, no matter how appalling the Saudi human-rights record gets.

What the alleged murder of Khashoggi does do, however, is rapidly eliminate any possibility that the Saudi alliance could be seen as something defensible and positive on its own terms, rather than a necessary evil.

Our long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia is like a favorite old chair that’s tattered and starting to smell bad. It’s time to get our butts off it and push it to the curb.