Then it was brought up at the United Nations Security Council, where every other member of that body voted against the U.S. position. Because of the peculiar set-up of that body, any of the five permanent members can veto a resolution. And that's what the U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley did -- killed the otherwise unanimous opposition to our position with a veto.
The General Assembly of all U.N. member nations then took up a resolution to condemn the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Without the possibility of a veto in the General Assembly, the non-binding resolution to condemn was approved by a vote of 128 to 9. Voting for it -- condemning our resolution -- were our allies the United Kingdom and France. Thirty-five countries abstained, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Trump's argument that he is merely recognizing the reality -- that Jerusalem is in effect actually the capital -- is absurd. Yes, there is some practical truth in that, but that's not the point.
It is powerfully symbolic, as well as almost unanimously agreed, that the status of Jerusalem would be part of the peace process negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the idea being that Jerusalem would be the capital of both -- with Israel having control of West Jerusalem and Palestine control of East Jerusalem.
Trump, in effect, made a preemptive strike that probably destroyed any chance of a peace process going forward, at least as long as he is president. The Palestinians promptly said that they would no longer talk with the U.S. concerning peace negotiations. They no longer consider us an honest broker.
With Trump as president, they are correct. Who controls Jerusalem is not just about Jerusalem. Saying that it is Israel's capital, period, is like dealing Israel all the aces in the deck, when they already hold the winning hand. Taking an even-handed position about the capital would be an indicator that we would look out for Palestinians' interests and not just Israelis' interests.
Trump did the opposite.
It is powerfully symbolic, as well as almost unanimously agreed, that the status of Jerusalem would be part of the peace process negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the idea being that Jerusalem would be the capital of both -- with Israel having control of West Jerusalem and Palestine control of East Jerusalem.
Trump, in effect, made a preemptive strike that probably destroyed any chance of a peace process going forward, at least as long as he is president. The Palestinians promptly said that they would no longer talk with the U.S. concerning peace negotiations. They no longer consider us an honest broker.
With Trump as president, they are correct. Who controls Jerusalem is not just about Jerusalem. Saying that it is Israel's capital, period, is like dealing Israel all the aces in the deck, when they already hold the winning hand. Taking an even-handed position about the capital would be an indicator that we would look out for Palestinians' interests and not just Israelis' interests.
Trump did the opposite.
Ralph
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