President Donald Trump has begun his plans to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Israel according to press secretary Sean Spicer. If President Trump makes good on his promise he risks a major backlash from Palestinians who view such a bold act as an declaration of war. President Trump said repeatedly during the campaign that he would set out to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
President Trump has ignored warnings
So far, President Trump has ignored many warnings that any plan to move the U.S.
embassy to Jerusalem which would destroy the peace process between Israel and Palestine and would violate international law. Many U.N. nations have their own embassies in Tel Aviv because they don't recognize Israel having complete ownership over the entire city of Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 Israeli-Palestinian war. The U.N. has previously stated that it considers East Jerusalem to be "occupied Palestinian territory." Israel has in the past also declared Jerusalem as its capital ignoring calls that it violates international law. Mr. Trump has expressed his unwavering support for Israel and it's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who he spoke to on the phone Sunday evening.
The president plans to meet Mr. Netanyahu in February at the White House to further discuss their mutual goals of a strong and renewed U.S.-Israeli relationship.
Protests against the controversial U.S. embassy move
Palestinians began expressing their anger by protesting the very controversial move during President Trump's inauguration to make their point that the move would jeopardize peace and stability in the Middle East region.
A Palestinian activist named Munther Amirah, gave a stern message to President Trump during one of the protests which he organized stating that, " We want peace, but if you bring the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem there will be no peace. If you support the colonization and settlements here, there will be no peace and no justice.
The Palestinians are fighting to end the apartheid here in Palestine." The plan may win favor with many Jews but it would also be met with much consternation amongst many Arabs including Jews that want peace in the Middle East region
Key Middle East allies object
If the plan reaches fruition to move the U.S. embassy to East Jerusalem it would also raise objections from key U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. The U.S. government relies on them for their oil, strategic locations, and their help in fighting terrorist groups such as ISIS. In 1995, congress actually passed a law declaring that Jerusalem was indeed the capital of Israel. Since then however, U.S. presidents have ignored that law and have used their foreign influence to keep the U.S embassy in Tel Aviv as part of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Will President Trump risk dismantling years of peace negotiations just to undermine the status quo and be seen as someone getting things done while alienating our middle east allies?
