BREAKING: Trump Administration Officially Moving The U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

[Right_in_Virginia]

This was a big, bold move by Trump.  He is putting the Palestinians (and the Arab world) on notice that there will be no more bleep-footing around.  In spite of the diplomatic community'd apoplexy, in the end the move will be respected by the Arabs because it is decisive, as opposed to the wishy-washy, two-faced approach we have traditionally taken when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump's Plan for Jerusalem Embassy Leaves Key Details Unresolved
Bloomberg, Dec 5, 2017

<snip>

The officials said the move is an acknowledgment of reality that the embassy’s placement isn’t key to securing a final peace deal. While a 1995 U.S. law says the embassy should be in an “undivided Jerusalem,” officials conceded that the exact boundaries of Israel’s sovereignty over the city will be subject to a broader peace agreement.

The law allows presidents to postpone the move by issuing a waiver every six months, and all of Trump’s predecessors did so out of concern about the strategic consequences. In keeping with that, Trump will sign a waiver delaying the move, the officials said.

The moving process will take years, the officials said. The administration still needs to work with Congress to authorize funding, find a site and only then start construction. It takes at least 3 to 4 years to build an embassy, according to the officials, who declined to offer specifics on a time frame for moving the facilities to Jerusalem.

More: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/trump-says-in-calls-he-s-moving-u-s-israel-embassy-to-jerusalem

[IsailedawayfromFR]

If the Turks can keep Constantinople with no controversy then I really don't know why Islam should be so upset about the Jews calling Jerusalem their Capital. Hell the Muslims stole both places.

Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for many years. Why would the USA not place its embassy of a country in its capital city?

[Right_in_Virginia]

Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for many years. Why would the USA not place its embassy of a country in its capital city?

@IsailedawayfromFR

The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the United Nations maintains that Israel's continued occupation of East Jerusalem, which it conquered in the Six Day War in 1967, is illegal under international law. While several countries previously had embassies in Jerusalem, they have now all either moved to Tel Aviv or cut off relations entirely after Israel added a law calling the holy city the "complete and united capital of Israel," according to Haaretz.

http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-jerusalem-embassy-israel-capital-2017-12

West Jerusalem is Israel's current seat of government.  I can't find anything saying if the President will specify West Jerusalem or all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

All of Jerusalem damages prospects for a negotiated peace and raises the issue of Israel annexing, as full Israeli citizens, all the indigenous people living in Jerusalem.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@IsailedawayfromFR

West Jerusalem is Israel's current seat of government.  I can't find anything saying if the President will specify West Jerusalem or all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

All of Jerusalem damages prospects for a negotiated peace and raises the issue of Israel annexing, as full Israeli citizens, all the indigenous people living in Jerusalem.

Hey, here's a news flash: 

The US does not designate the capital city.  Israel does.  The US is moving its embassy to where Israel says it is.

One more news flash:  The US will move its embassy to the part of Jerusalem controlled by Israel.  Hint:  It is not in East Jerusalem.

[massadvj]

@IsailedawayfromFR
All of Jerusalem damages prospects for a negotiated peace....

This is the conventional wisdom.  On the other hand, if he is ambiguous about it then maybe the Palestinians will decide to seriously bargain for peace because they will fear losing their slice of Jerusalem.

The Palestinians have been playing us for suckers for a couple of generations.  Maybe they will at last see it is time to poop or get out of the woods.

[DCPatriot]

FINALLY a leader in the Whitehouse!

You're welcome!   

[Bigun]

You're welcome!   

You are not the one responsible!  Sorry!

[Right_in_Virginia]

This is the conventional wisdom.  On the other hand, if he is ambiguous about it then maybe the Palestinians will decide to seriously bargain for peace because they will fear losing their slice of Jerusalem. 

How would declaring all of Jerusalem the capital of Israel factor into your supposition?  @massadvj

[skeeter]

Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for many years. Why would the USA not place its embassy of a country in its capital city?

Agree. *&% what the Arabs want. They are lucky to live among a modern civilized people and not a medieval hellhole.

[aligncare]

You are not the one responsible!  Sorry!

His supporters certainly were responsible for putting Trump in the White House.

If we had had to rely on NeverTrump and RNC, we’d all be suffering under the administration of Madame President now.

[RoosGirl]

His supporters certainly were responsible for putting Trump in the White House.

If we had had to rely on NeverTrump and RNC, we’d all be suffering under the administration of Madame President now.

I think I've read this somewhere before.  If only I could remember where...

[edpc]

His supporters certainly were responsible for putting Trump in the White House.

If we had had to rely on NeverTrump and RNC, we’d all be suffering under the administration of Madame President now.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I think I've read this somewhere before.  If only I could remember where...

Was it here @RoosGirl ? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3436486/posts?q=1&;page=81

[RoosGirl]

Was it here @RoosGirl ?   *I'll just remove the link to TOS for you*

Linking to an article on FR?  That's cute.

[aligncare]

Was it here @RoosGirl ? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3436486/posts?q=1&;page=81

Country first. (To those of you from Rio Linda, that’s America first.) 

[TomSea]

It really shouldn't matter where an embassy is located, I realize there are issues but if we moved our embassy from Mexico City to Guadalajara or from Ottawa to Vancouver, not a big deal. BTW, I'm sure, Guadalajara and Vancouver already have their own embassies, it's just an example.

I also read that we could have just picked up and moved without any announcement.

Okay, the announcement is upcoming soon.

[bilo]

@IsailedawayfromFR

West Jerusalem is Israel's current seat of government.  I can't find anything saying if the President will specify West Jerusalem or all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

All of Jerusalem damages prospects for a negotiated peace and raises the issue of Israel annexing, as full Israeli citizens, all the indigenous people living in Jerusalem.

Creating a new nation that indoctrinates it's children that all Jews must die is not a negotiated peace, it's a prescription for war. The "indigenous" people have no rights to Jerusalem. The Palestinians should be assimilated back into Jordan and Egypt.

[TomSea]

Could have a live thread here, or just continue here.

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/live-donald-trump-moves-us-embassy-jerusalem-recognises-capital-israel-state-palestine-867116874

We've (meaning congress 25 years ago) already recognized I thought but never moved officially. Czech Republic recognized in the past few months I believe. It's a step that probably needs to be taken than just always standing down.

[massadvj]

How would declaring all of Jerusalem the capital of Israel factor into your supposition?  @massadvj

I don't think he should declare all of Jerusalem the capital.  I said he should keep it ambiguous (ie, make it an open question).

The Israelis probably do not want to annex the Palestinian side of the city in any event, any more than they want to control the West Bank.  It opens them up to accusations of apartheid, etc. 

[bilo]

Agree. *&% what the Arabs want. They are lucky to live among a modern civilized people and not a medieval hellhole.

 

What most people don't realize is that over 700,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries when Israel was finally recognized. Maybe it's time to send the Palestinians back to Arab countries.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Linking to an article on FR?  That's cute.

Just trying to be helpful.   

[Right_in_Virginia]

I don't think he should declare all of Jerusalem the capital.  I said he should keep it ambiguous (ie, make it an open question).

The Israelis probably do not want to annex the Palestinian side of the city in any event, any more than they want to control the West Bank.  It opens them up to accusations of apartheid, etc.

We agree. 

[DiogenesLamp]

@IsailedawayfromFR

West Jerusalem is Israel's current seat of government.  I can't find anything saying if the President will specify West Jerusalem or all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

All of Jerusalem damages prospects for a negotiated peace and raises the issue of Israel annexing, as full Israeli citizens, all the indigenous people living in Jerusalem.

Haven't we been "negotiating"  peace at least since Carter?   How has that worked out so far?   


Could ignoring them produce a worse result?   I'm not seeing it. 

[DiogenesLamp]

What most people don't realize is that over 700,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries when Israel was finally recognized. Maybe it's time to send the Palestinians back to Arab countries.

I'm okay with that.   They've blown all their opportunities.  It's time to quite #&*@$ with them.   

[XenaLee]

Haven't we been "negotiating"  peace at least since Carter?   How has that worked out so far?   


Could ignoring them produce a worse result?   I'm not seeing it.

You can't negotiate peace with an entity that does not want peace.  Especially when that entity views peace as antithetical to their religion and the agenda of their "god".