Israeli media outlets have been reporting that expectations are high in Jerusalem regarding a possible formal recognition of the city being Israel’s capital. Sources in the political echelon have reported that they expect U.S. President Donald Trump to announce his formal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in the coming days. The ramifications of such a move, according to the same sources, would be that Trump would instruct his staff to then begin preparations to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Sources have explained Trump’s motive for the decision at the current time as not wanting to wait for a formal political plan of action to take shape, because he does not want to have to again sign a renunciation of the plan to move the embassy. Every president since 1999, from Clinton to Bush to Obama to Trump has signed a declaration postponing the move. Additionally, Trump is facing enormous pressure from his Evangelical supporters who are pushing him to keep his election promise and move the embassy.
Yesterday, the United Nations celebrated 70 years since the historic vote to establish the State of Israel on the 29th of November in 1947. During the event, Vice President Mike Pence announced that President Trump “is seriously weighing moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.” Pence also spoke of the support that the U.S. has shown Israel and stated that the negative treatment that Israel has seen at the hands of the United Nations ended with the apointment of U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley to the U.N.
“Israel has the natural and historical right to an independent country. The Holocaust proved that the Jewish people cannot safely exist without this independence. Under the current Trump presidency, I promise you that: The United States will stand side by side with Israel because your values are our values, your goals are our goals and your wars are our wars. The President has dedicated numerous government actions to the strengthening of ties between Israel and the United States. I too will come to visit Jerusalem next month with my family.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
No one should hold their breath
Would it not be better to let sleeping dogs lie…?
Smart double talk. He can recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, not sign the waiver but tell all the folks in Washington who actually have to do anything about an Embassy move to take their time, lots of time. Then he can tell the Pals not to worry, it was all talk to keep the Jews happy. By the time anything needs to be really decided, there will be a new President.