Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Unilateral policy is meaningless.

Building a consensus among countries globally is needed to end the tensions between Palestine and Israel when it comes to Jerusalem. Quite frankly, Jerusalem has enormous significance to many religions. This is not a simple point on a map called "the capital of." It is a highly valued city by a large number of people and the issue is not easily solved. The only claim Israel makes is that Jerusalem is best left in their hands for safe keeping. 

Hm?

If safekeeping is the issue and Jerusalem is an international city, the United Nations has a greater stake in the matter than either countries.

The EU is exactly correct, in stating if the USA is going it alone on behalf of an ally, they are morally correct in representing the Palestinian issue. Israel forgets it is well outside its borders from the UN resolution creating Israel. What makes Israel so sure the world community considers it trustworthy?

This is a foolish effort by Trump. If there was a vote today in the UN General Assembly to make Jerusalem capital of either country it would most likely fail.

January 22, 2018

Occupied Jerusalem/Brussels  — In a fresh display of Western discord (click here) over Middle East peace efforts, the United States said on Monday its Israel embassy would move to Jerusalem by the end of 2019, while its European Union allies voiced support for East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state.
Vice-President Mike Pence, visiting Jerusalem, announced the timing of the move in a speech to Israel's parliament, earning applause from Israeli legislators but also stirring a brief protest by Israeli Arab lawmakers, who held signs reading "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine".
In Brussels, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting that the EU supported his ambition to have East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state.
US President Donald Trump suddenly reversed decades of US policy in December when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, generating fury from Palestinians and the Arab world and concern among Washington's western allies.
Trump's move delighted Israel, Washington's closest Middle East ally, but stirred disquiet from world powers including Russia and China who worry it would stoke regional tensions and further drive a wedge between Israel and the Palestinians....