Illegal land occupation

[rooster59]

Trump likely to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital next week: official

By Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick

 

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is likely to announce next week that the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a senior administration official said on Friday, a move that would upend decades of American policy and possibly inflame tensions in the Middle East.

 

Trump could make the controversial declaration in a speech on Wednesday though he is also expected to again delay his campaign promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. The senior official and two other government sources said final decisions had not yet been made.

 

The Palestinians want Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, and the international community does not recognise Israel's claim on all of the city, home to sites holy to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions.

 

Word of Trump's planned announcement, which would deviate from previous U.S. presidents who have insisted the Jerusalem's status must be decided in negotiations, drew criticism from the Palestinian Authority and was sure to anger the broader Arab world.

 

It could also unravel the U.S. administration's fledgling diplomatic effort, led by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, to restart long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and enlist the support of U.S. Arab allies.

 

Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital would "destroy the peace process" and "destabilize the region."

 

Such a move, however, could help satisfy the pro-Israel, right-wing base that helped Trump win the presidency and also please the Israeli government, a close U.S. ally.

 

The senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said details were still being finalised and could still change.

 

Another U.S. official said Trump appeared to be heading toward recognising Israel's claim to Jerusalem but that it was not a done deal.

"We've nothing to announce," said a spokesperson with the White House National Security Council.

 

INTERNAL DELIBERATIONS

 

Trump's impending decisions on Jerusalem, one of the most sensitive core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, follow intense internal deliberations in which the president has personally weighed in, one White House aide said.

 

Trump is likely to continue his predecessors' practice of signing a six-month waiver overriding a 1995 law requiring that the U.S. embassy be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, two officials told Reuters on Thursday.

 

But seeking to temper his supporters' concerns, another option under consideration is for Trump to order his aides to develop a longer-term plan for the embassy's relocation to make clear his intent to do so eventually, the officials said.

 

It was unclear, however, whether any public recognition by Trump of Israel's claim on Jerusalem would be formally enshrined in a presidential action or be more of a symbolic statement.

 

Trump pledged on the presidential campaign trail last year that he would move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

 

But in June, Trump waived the requirement, saying he wanted to "maximize the chances" for a new U.S.-led push for what he has called the "ultimate deal" of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Those efforts have made little, if any, progress so far and many experts are sceptical of the prospects for success.

 

The status of Jerusalem is one of the major stumbling blocks in achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, a move not recognised internationally.

 

Arab governments and Western allies have long urged Trump not to proceed with the embassy relocation, which would reverse long-standing U.S. policy by granting de facto U.S. recognition of Israel’s claim to all of Jerusalem as its capital.

 

Visiting Washington this week, Jordan's King Abdullah warned lawmakers that moving the U.S. embassy could be "exploited by terrorists to stoke anger, frustration and desperation," according to the Jordanian state news agency Petra.

 

Some of Trump's top aides have privately pushed for him to keep his campaign promise to satisfy a range of supporters, including evangelical Christians, while others have cautioned about the potential damage to U.S. relations with Muslim countries.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-02

[ezzra]

What was a hot potato issue for many before him, it seems that no more, is it the right move? time will tell, so far, it seems that even with Jerusalem in state of limbo, even that didn't help the peace process, maybe now, someone on the Palestinian side will wake up at last....

[Enoon]

 

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

What was a hot potato issue for many before him, it seems that no more, is it the right move? time will tell, so far, it seems that even with Jerusalem in state of limbo, even that didn't help the peace process, maybe now, someone on the Palestinian side will wake up at last....

 

This is 1000 times bigger than "Palestinians".

 

It is the core of resentment for millions of Muslims (even the "friendlies").

 

Flipping the "hot potato" into the fire.

 

 

Edited December 2, 2017 by Enoon

[boomerangutang]

As usual, Trump will make the wrong decision. 

[yardrunner]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

What was a hot potato issue for many before him, it seems that no more, is it the right move? time will tell, so far, it seems that even with Jerusalem in state of limbo, even that didn't help the peace process, maybe now, someone on the Palestinian side will wake up at last....

pity the american people did not wake up to the kind of man the donald was before the last election 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, yardrunner said:

pity the american people did not wake up to the kind of man the donald was before the last election 

The majority did BEFORE the election. 

[KarenBravo]

Limited upside. Yuge downside.

He really is a moron.

[howbri]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

Limited upside. Yuge downside.

He really is a moron.

Drink much?

[Thaidream]

Donald Trump has not done one thing that the majority of the American people agree with nor the rest of the World. Jerusalem needs to be internationalised and to move the US embassy there will simply antagonize the Muslim World as well as set back any chance of forcing a peace arrangement.

Trump is controlled by the alt right  and I am sure speaks regularly with his mentor Bannon.Trump just  moves from one bad decision to another and makes one bad statement after another.

 

Donald Trump is the most incompetent President ever and will go down in history as such. His decisions have widespread effect and influence in the World and he is pushing the US further and further towards wars on several fronts. The sad thing is that supposed responsible people in the Congress are supposed to check the power of the President- yet the Republicans continue to support this fool.  Rex Tillerson was right- Trump is a moron and his supporters continue to provide a cover for his inadequacies.

[KarenBravo]

25 minutes ago, howbri said:

Drink much?

Not enough, actually.

[TEFLKrabi]

For the first time in a while the US is struggling for wars so it’s time to create one. Which will Be first, North Korea or a general Arab skirmish?

[Thakkar]

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Such a move, however, could help satisfy the pro-Israel, right-wing base that helped Trump win the presidency

 

The largest group among the above are evangelicals. Let’s not forget why they want this: They sincerely believe such a move will be a step closer to Armageddon, the second comming of Christ and the annihilation of all non Christians, as well as all the wrong kinds of Christians. Such a lovely, godly bunch, these evangelicals. 

[Morch]

10 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

As usual, Trump will make the wrong decision. 

 

Well, he did sign the waver last time this came up. And the Palestinian mission in DC wasn't shut down, eventually, when that was on. Not so much of always making the wrong decisions, but of how even making the right decision seems to involve a torturous route of uncertainty, provoking unnecessary antagonism and the all too familiar about face (with aids, officials and spokespersons rushing to man damage control positions).

[Morch]

 

Quote

It was unclear, however, whether any public recognition by Trump of Israel's claim on Jerusalem would be formally enshrined in a presidential action or be more of a symbolic statement.

 

Sounds like a winner. For Trump, that is. Not so much for anyone else. Nothing like a nothing statement and being able to claim achievement.

Edited December 2, 2017 by Morch

[Scott]

A conspiracy post has been removed.

[hawker9000]

10 hours ago, yardrunner said:

pity the american people did not wake up to the kind of man the donald was before the last election 

They were too busy waking up to the kind of man his predecessor was, and the abysmal alternative to "the Donald" that same party was offering them...

 

Pity that party couldn't have done any better.

[Trouble]

It will be the wrong move.  Only going to stoke the fires burning in the Middle East.

[Kiwiken]

19 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

 

This is 1000 times bigger than "Palestinians".

 

It is the core of resentment for millions of Muslims (even the "friendlies").

 

Flipping the "hot potato" into the fire.

 

 

It will also raise a rising resentment among many Christians. Jerusalem was supposed to be a UN mandated and controlled demilitarised City. Now Trump by endorsing it as Israels capital has Once again made it the ember that sparks the flame.

Is this what Trump wanted to be the starter of Armaggedon?

[Kiwiken]

19 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

 

This is 1000 times bigger than "Palestinians".

 

It is the core of resentment for millions of Muslims (even the "friendlies").

 

Flipping the "hot potato" into the fire.

 

 

It will also raise a rising resentment among many Christians. Jerusalem was supposed to be a UN mandated and controlled demilitarised City. Now Trump by endorsing it as Israels capital has Once again made it the ember that sparks the flame.

Is this what Trump wanted to be the starter of Armaggedon?

[Morch]

1 minute ago, Kiwiken said:

It will also raise a rising resentment among many Christians. Jerusalem was supposed to be a UN mandated and controlled demilitarised City. Now Trump by endorsing it as Israels capital has Once again made it the ember that sparks the flame.

Is this what Trump wanted to be the starter of Armaggedon?

 

I doubt that you could point out to such wide spread Christian sentiment. There was a whole lot of "supposed to" related to the relevant UN resolution. Can't recall this bogus argument cited to allege there's "Christian resentment" directed at those who rejected the UN resolution to begin with. If anything, Christians enjoy better access to their holy sites and more religious freedom under current conditions.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[dexterm]

If this is part of a Trump blackmail threat to force Palestinians to negotiate his ultimate deal, I think he has seriously overplayed his hand.

 

Such a sensitive issue as moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem will not help resolve the conflict; it will only exacerbate it. 

Edited December 3, 2017 by dexterm

[Grouse]

I guess Jerusalem is closer to Iran so that's nice ? 

[Grouse]

4 hours ago, Grouse said:

I guess Jerusalem is closer to Iran so that's nice ? 

 

4 hours ago, Grouse said:

I guess Jerusalem is closer to Iran so that's nice ? 

Irony. It's about 4% closer

[Grouse]

53 minutes ago, Grouse said:

 

Irony. It's about 4% closer

The Israelis and the Iranians pretty much hate each other 

 

Jerusalem is a little closer to Iran so Iran missiles would have a slightly shorter flight

 

"how nice" was the ironic part

 

Basta!

[Morch]

37 minutes ago, Grouse said:

The Israelis and the Iranians pretty much hate each other 

 

Jerusalem is a little closer to Iran so Iran missiles would have a slightly shorter flight

 

"how nice" was the ironic part

 

Basta!

 

Jerusalem hosts one of Islam's most sacred places. The chances of Iran ever targeting it with missiles is minimal. Then there are also all them Palestinians living in Jerusalem, guess it wouldn't do to hit them as well. 

[Grouse]

45 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Jerusalem hosts one of Islam's most sacred places. The chances of Iran ever targeting it with missiles is minimal. Then there are also all them Palestinians living in Jerusalem, guess it wouldn't do to hit them as well. 

Goodnight Morch......

 

I mean that literally, I promise I won't make any more light comments again....

 

(You think I don't know about Jersusalem? I just finished "The History of Jerusalem" - all 900 pages of it! Anybody got any artichokes? I need to choke somebody) ?

[thaihome]

This sums it pretty well.

TH 

 

Foreign Policy by Symbolic Half-Measures

Trump's reported intention to declare Jerusalem Israel's capital, while declining to move the embassy, mirrors a tactic he's used before.

 

...fit a precedent he set with regard to the Iran nuclear deal. The basic approach: Make a bold statement that honors his campaign promises without fully fulfilling them.

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/12/trump-jerusalem-israel/547277/

[Thorgal]

Perhaps Trump wants also to build a wall around Jerusalem and the Palestinians should pay for it...

Edited December 3, 2017 by Thorgal

[JemJem]

My guess is he is going to do a flip-flop (yes, ONCE AGAIN).

 

Also, I am guessing that he won't go for this in the foreseeable future.

 

So....why does he keep bringing it up, and then not go for it ?! Your guess is as good as mine :)