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DONALD TRUMP’S DECISION to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has drawn sharp criticism, with the significant exception of Israel.
Yesterday’s announcement is a historic decision that overturns decades of US policy and risks triggering a fresh spasm of violence in the Middle East.
It plunges the US into a decade-long dispute over a city considered holy by Jews, Muslims and Christians, and flies in the face of warnings from US allies and leaders across the Middle East.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was just one of the global voices to condemn Trump’s declaration.
“The dangerously heightened tensions in Jerusalem in recent years have underlined the need to avoid any unilateral actions to alter the status quo in the city,” Coveney said.
“I believe therefore that today’s announcement by the United States in relation to Jerusalem is premature and ill-advised, and will be unhelpful to efforts to reach a resolution of the Middle East Peace Process, something which is very urgently needed,” he said.
“I conveyed to the US government yesterday my concern about reports of US intentions, and I know that very many leaders around the world did the same. Today’s announcement is thus very disappointing and difficult to understand.”
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the US could no longer play the role of peace broker after Trump’s decision.
These deplorable and unacceptable measures deliberately undermine all peace efforts.
The secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation said Trump had destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“He destroyed the two-state solution,” Saeb Erekat, who long served as the Palestinian’s top negotiator, told journalists.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the British government disagreed with Trump’s decision, saying it was “unhelpful” for peace efforts.
French president Emmanuel Macron branded Trump’s stance as “regrettable” and called for efforts to “avoid violence at all costs”.
Saudi Arabia slammed Trump’s move as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said the decision goes against the “historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people”.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump’s recognition as “historic” and a “courageous and just decision”.
Netanyahu also pledged no change in the status quo at Jerusalem’s highly sensitive holy sites in the city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Other plans
Plunging further into a bitter centuries-old argument between Jews, Muslims and Christians, Trump will also order planning to begin on moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“It will take some time to find a site, to address security concerns, design a new facility, fund a new facility and build it,” the official said, indicating that the move will not be immediate.
It will be a matter of some years, it won’t be months, it’s going to take time.
The status of Jerusalem is a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the city as their capital, and expectations of Trump’s announcement have roiled the combustible region.
Anticipating widespread demonstrations, US government officials have been ordered to avoid Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank.
- © AFP 2017 with reporting by Hayley Halpin
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Americans need to stop interfering in that part of the world. This will resolve nothing. Was this an election pledge?
@lavbeer: Fairly sure it was, albeit one he could rejatively easily achieve. Afterall, words come easy to Trump, regardless of the implications
@lavbeer: It was. It was also an election pledge of every presidential candidate since Clinton. Trump is the only one (honest)(foolish)(belligerent)* enough to actually do it.
* Delete as appropriate
@lavbeer:
What does it change? Jerusalem has been under Israeli control since the 1960′s and has been their official capital for decades.
@Thought for Food: Zionists occupy Jerusalem because Uncle Sam has vetoed all efforts by the civilized world to get them to stop. Further, a UN Resolution mandates that the status of Jerusalem be decided by negotiations and agreements between Palestine and Israel in a 2 State solution. It is contrary to international for the US and Israel to unilaterally decide the issue.
Has he built the wall that planes can fly over yet?
@Denis McClean: Wrong, Jewish have lived in Jerusalem for the past 3000 years, its been their capital for 3000 years, Jews were the majority in Jerusalem for 3000 years. Throughout their history and other occupying nations, the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks ect, Jews have been the majority in that city. They are not the occupiers of Jerusalem, that has been, and always will be, their home, and the capital of their Country. Arabs making up lies about it and uneducated ignorant people believing their propaganda won’t change that truth.
@Paul McDonald: Wrong. Jerusalem was the capital of the Tribe of Judah.before Babylon sacked and destroyed it for non payment of taxes.(circa 603 BC) It was Cyrus of Persia (Iran) who facilitated the return of Jews to Judah when he put manners on Babylon. Judah was only one tribe of the tribes of Israel and Israel only lasted 78 years as such and with Jerusalem as its capital. It’s referenced in the Book of Ezra and others.
@Denis McClean: time of David to the Exile: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and later, the kingdom of Judea, for 400 years. After the return. Jerusalem, is capital again until Hellenistic times – another couple of hundred years. After the Maccabbean revolt, it yet again becomes capital until the time of Herod: amost 200 years. Far cry away from 78 years.
@lavbeer: yes it was and furthermore it was passed in a 1995 unanimous vote under Clinton.
@Denis McClean: I can smell your jew hatred.
Israel is the ONLY civilised country in the region. You identify yourself with the stone age barbarians.
@Denis McClean: Wrong again Denis, yes the tribe of Judah was assigned thats territory as all the other tribes of Israel had different parts of the Country, just like Ireland is made up or 32 or 26 counties, which ever way you want to look at it, Dunlin is the capital of Ireland even though you have the tribes of Cork, Limerick, Wexford ect, Jerusalem was made by King David, that capital of the entire Jewish people and where the ark of the covanant was situated where all the tribes of Israel were to come up to 3 times a year to worship. It was only when the Northern Tribes rebeled against the King Rehoboam that they broke away and made Samaria their capital, but some who didn’t rebel from the Northern Tribes moved to Judah and Jerusalem was always the capital of Israel as a whole. If I decided that I wanted Cork to be the capital of Ireland and move there, that doesn’t mean it is or ever will be.
Whatever your opinion on the Israel/Palestine conflict, no one can deny that this is anything but a needless stoking of hatred. He had done this purely for self serving reasons . This narcissist won’t be happy until he has the while world at each other’s throats . His divide and conquer while creating histeria agenda is now more dangerous than ever. It’s about time all world leaders stood together and made it impossible for him to continue in his position.
@domas1507: Trade sanctions, travel ban, military action etc. What do suggest?
@Chad Rockett: it wouldn’t even take any of that. World leaders need just call him what he is. That would put enough pressure on America to deal with him. There are loads of republicans just waiting for the opportunity to get rid of him. Saying his statements are unhelpful dissent cut it.
@domas1507: well said
@domas1507: Pure fantasy.
@Chad Rockett: not really, he can’t even get his own bills passed in the Senate.
@domas1507: What IS the capital of Israel then?
@Ivan Badger: you’re missing the point here. What the capital of Israel or Palestine will eventually be is not the issue here. Coming out and inflaming tensions in a really volatile area for you own selfish agenda While both countries are involved in peace talks is the problem.
@domas1507: both sides are involved in peace talks? When did that happen? The Oslo accords were over 20 years ago. Camp David and Taba over 15. Not much happening in this space now.
@Squarepeg01: well technically not peace talks but talking about peace talks
@Ivan Badger: That would be where all the embassies are in Tel Aviv.
@domas1507: That’s the problem, there are no peace talks, the Palestinian authority don’t want peace with Israel, they want Israel gone, all Jews annihilated, world wide, its in their charter, its in their Koran, look it up. Arafat said “The goal of our struggle is the end of Israel, and there can be no compromises or mediations, We don’t want peace, we want victory. Peace for us means Israel’s destruction and nothing else”. Now tell me, how can you negotiate with a people who want to kill you, how can you talk peace with someone who idea of peace is your and your family’s destruction, even after been offered 98% of what the Palestinians wanted at the Oslo accord, Arafat rejected it and called for the first intifada where thousands died on both sides. The Palestinian people need rescuing not from the Israelis, but from their own terrorist leaders.
Does Trump wake up every morning and say, “Who can I pi$$ off today?”
@Andrew Giles: he thinks what extra distractions can I add today
It is Israel’s capital. And Israel is the best nation in the region, even with its easily condemned policies and history of violence.
@Georgio Zizek: bwahahaha know your audience. Come towards the border and you’ll see flags of Palestine flying.
And stop fishing for an argument and read your history.
@Georgio Zizek: define “best nation” please
@Dermot Foley: would that be the history where the Arabs riot and kill Jews whenever the urge takes them. Even now Jews are forbidden from approaching the Temple Mount.
@White Rabbit: where you won’t get thrown off a building for being gay and you get to vote more than once a decade. For starters
@Squarepeg01: thrown off the roof for being gay.. I haven’t heard that retort before. We’ll the other side shells kids playing football on a beach so I suppose there is no moral high ground for the Israeli occupation.
@Joe Travers: Israel does not occupy Gaza. Hasn’t done for over 10 years. We’re talking about which society you or any sane person would like to live in, if you had to pick one frim the ME. Even the Israeli Arabs don’t want to live anywhere else.
@Squarepeg01: Your Hasbara Manual needs some serious review if this is the best effort at diverting critics from the subject.
@Georgio Zizek:
Actually Lebanon is a far more civilised country than Israel in that region.
@Colin Morris: sure, if you like everything run by Hizbollah terrorists.
@Joe Travers: Wrong, investigation reports by the UN found this to be a fabricated lie by Hamas, those poor children were murdered by a Hamas rocked which fell short of its target, when the Israeli fire a missile, its targeted, Hamas rockets land anywhere, many of them inside Gaza and kill many of the own people, but of course they won’t admit to that, so lets blame the Israelis and have the world hate them for murdering little children playing football on a beach. Only stupid ignorant people who don’t do their research believe lies like this. Israelis don’t deliberately murder children, palestinians do. ie Fogal family. Among many others
@Georgio Zizek: Part- Christian Lebanon is a better state. It does not invade it’s neighbours and has good relations between Christian, Muslim and Jew.
@hallelujah: neither does Israel, unless it’s attacked.
@Paul McDonald: that’s not true. Israel’s navy was negligent.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Gaza_war_beach_bombing_incidents
@Squarepeg01: No it was not, did you see the actual beach and the bodies taken off, if an Israeli shell from an Israeli warship had hit that beach there would have been an unmerciful hole and those children would have been brown to bits, didn’t happen. those childrens bodied were intact. Your believing something some randomer typed into wikipedia who obviously didn’t hear the UN report or kept the fabricated lie going to hatred of the Israelis. Agian Israel does not target Children, what you think the Israeli military wake up in the morning and say to themselves, “I wonder how many palestinian kids I can kill today before lunch” come on man, think about it. They are mothers and fathers to, they are sons and daughters to. Palesatinians (not all of course) do wake up wondering have many jews they can kill today. Thats is a well documents fact, as said googke the Fogel family, they are just one incedent of what the Jewish people have to put up with from the savagery of the Palestinians. I have no sympathy for any savage, no matter who they are, that wants to and does stab or shoot babies in their beds as palestinians have done.
@Paul McDonald: I’m happy to change my mind if you can produce a credible source to support your view that Hamas caused the deaths, but I don’t think you’ll find any. Even the JPost reports that an IDF investigation concluded it was naval shelling that caused the boys’ deaths. It brings me no pleasure to blame the Israelis as I am fairly Zionist in most matters. (BTW, I did say they were negligent rather than deliberate acts.) But a fact is a fact whether it supports my side or not.
Trump needs a war to distract his electorate from everything else that’s going on and keep him in office . This was completely unnecessary .
@Darren Moore:
What’s completely unnecessary is pretending that the reality on the ground isn’t in fact reality. Jerusalem has been the Israeli capital for decades and pretending that it isn’t the case isn’t going to achieve anything.
@Thought for Food: And Amman in Jordan(Arab Palestine) has been the Palestinian capital for decades.
@Tom Newnewman: After failing to convince the civilized world that Palestine never existed, Hasbara is now trying to move it east into Jordan. Read your history. The west bank was ceded by Jordan to Palestine as part of the two state solution that Trump is now determined to undermine,
@Denis McClean: cede? What are you talking about? Israel captured it after the 6 day war and temained as de facto administrators for over 20 years until Jordan renounced its claims to it.
Donald Trump has now proved to the world that he is the greatest president and statesman in the history of the USA. May God bless him and it is with true gratitude that we the people should all thank God that he is there to lead the world with his wisdom, kindness and humility. Roll on 2020 four more years!
@David Nihill: Haha, nice trolling!
About as subtle at a brick through a stained glass window!
@David Nihill: Great to see Donald Trump on The Journal.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: As subtle as the great one. May the Lord bless him and guard him.
@David Nihill: the Great One is Mark Levin.
@David Nihill: Yo, Davo. They say its going to get a bit chilly here in Ireland. How is it looking there in the university of Tel Aviv?
@Denis McClean: you’re blabbering Denis
@Mel Fitzpatrick: I wonder is Dave Nihill the same person as Mick Johnson and Paul Mcdonald and jackie Goodhall. Click on their profiles.
@Ro Molloy: No I am not the same person but I am entitled to an opinion, one you may not agree to. That is what a democracy is and that is why Donald Trump is a great president, he listens to all opinions. Try it some time.
The US relies on conflicts throughout the world in order to prosper. It’s the only country that’s being involved in non stop conflict since WW2. The instability in regions like the Middle East guarantees much lesser chance of any country in that region developing into any sort of threat for the US.
@Ciarán McPhillips: newsflash. There already is plenty of conflict in the world. Without US military might it would be much much worse and our flag might well be some version of a hammer and sickle today. If your theory were correct, the US would try to destabilise Ireland and the rest of Europe just because…but it doesn’t. Capitalism favour peace and stability because uncertainty and chaos is bad for business.
@Squarepeg01: lol
@White Rabbit: *slaps forehead* You’re right. I’m completely sold on the cogency of your arguments and your masterful (if slightly too succint) eloquence.
@Squarepeg01:
Don’t bother. To these people it’s the innocent Palestinians vs the evil imperialistic Israelis and Americans. Nothing you say will change that narrative for them.
@Squarepeg01: capitalism… what are arms companies worth on the stock markets.??
@Joe Travers: and the connection between them and US foreign policy is purely in your imagination. Besides, arms companies are a tiny fraction of capitalism. Yes, they benefit from wars. So do companies involved in the construction business. Not many others. Overall, war makes us poorer.
@Ciarán McPhillips: You are half right. The rest of the story is keeping the Christian Evangelical Zionist vote and the value of arms exports to allies. Don’t forget that Israel’s annual 3 Billion Plus in arms is not free. It is paid for with U.S. Tax dollars. The US has become addicted to arms revenues.
It must be so embarrassing to be American with a fool like Trump as leader.
@Smiley: he’s a one-man wrecking ball. Can’t see him lasting a whole term; it’s a matter of watching him lurch from one self-inflicted mess to another. God help whoever comes after him.
@Alan M: except this will go down well with his fan base back home.
@Smiley: So you haven’t been watching the enormous growth of the American economy since the election….
Least he had the courage or bribe to do it this was agreed in the 90s and every president put it off. People should of protested they did have plenty of time.
Journal.ie please check your facts. The opening statement is not true. Trump’s statement hasn’t “brought sharp criticism [...] with the significant exception of Israel.” The Czech Republic and the Philippines have also just announced their recognition, and Ghana has expressed their support. More will follow.
@Jackie Goodall: No they haven’t. You need to read the news again. It’s Uncle Sam and Satanyahu against the civilized world. Let me re-iterate. The Czechs have no objection to the Status, PROVIDED it comes about as a result of Palestine and Israel negotiation and agreement as per UN Mandate.
@Jackie Goodall: and Russia did last April!!
@Jackie Goodall: Those are some heavy hitting, influential nations on the world stage there – Czech Republic, Philippines, Ghana. They’re all permanent members of the UN Security Council, right?…
Jerusalem is obviously Israel’s capital. It’s been the capital of Jewish culture and society for thousands of years. This was simply an acknowledgement of something that was already known.
Did you not realise that Russia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Finland also recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital? And now both Leaders of the Philippines and the Czech Republic have reportedly expressed interest in moving their embassies to Jerusalem…
@(((watchmaker101))): The Capital of Zionist Culture was Warsaw and Washington and as stated. soime countries have no problem with the proposed Status of Jerusalem provided the Palestinians agree to it. Read it again.
@(((watchmaker101))): It is also a very important place for Christians and Muslims. Fanatical Jews have their site on the Al Asque mosque, the third most holy site in Islam. These fanatics also have very little respect for Christianity.
@(((watchmaker101))): Stop making sense it ruins the daily bashing from trump haters..Id say if he said the world was round theyd argue its flat
@(((watchmaker101))): Jerusalem hasn’t been the capital of the apartheid state of Israel for well over a thousand of years though, only about 70 years. It’s younger than the RoI. Your rant is wasted.
The commitment to recognize Jerusalem was made by Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump. If you make the announcement all about the President and ignore the historical context of that policy, you are willfully putting politics over principle. Jerusalem has only ever been the capital of the Jewish people. It is the seat of Israel’s government and Parliament. Is only right that it be recognized as Israel’s capital. Palestinians have no special claim to Jerusalem; they simply demand it as their capital.
How is trump still in power American people must be asleep at the wheel
@Roy O’ Brien: I agree Rory but look at what we have here too. Irish people could also be guilty of that.
@Roy O’ Brien: what? You were hoping for a coup?
@Squarepeg01: I would like a coupe ,red with alloy wheels
Does anyone not think that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital??
@Pat Cbar: So let’s see. The two most powerful nuclear powers in the UN Security Council, both of whom backed the original creation of modern Israel, both have accepted Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. USA and Russia.
Everything else is irrelevant.
Can orange man get any worse. Ffs
I hope the Israeli government respect the Christian and Muslim holy sites. Especially the Christian. They don’t have a great record in defending non Jewish sites.
What a despicable human being Trump is.
On the plus side he won’t be there for too much longer.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: I don’t know Mel. I fear he may get a second term.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: people have been saying this since the day he was inaugurated …. yet there he is , still there .
@Mel Fitzpatrick:
Isn’t this a copy-paste of your comment from yesterday?
@Thought for Food: She must be a nazi doesint want the Jews to have their capital lol
@Mel Fitzpatrick: oh the irony of you comment!
@White Rabbit: It’s hardly just about him. If he goes, who’s next in line? Then there’s a Republican Party majority. Be careful what you wish for.
He is mad.
The Donalds fine tuned Skill of the Art of Misdirection strikes again. He does something deplorable then does something even worse or MORE sensational just to move the conversation off of the 1st thing.
The antichrist is in office
Why does a trade bloc need an army?
Wrong article. Doh!
@Chad Rockett: Same reason Israel needs an army.
The US has never been an independent mediator. How could they have been. They bankroll Israel to the tune of billions per annum and have constantly used their veto against any UN sanctions against Israel. They never use any pressure to stop the illegal settlement building. This move by Trumpton just make it clear for everyone which side the US is on. One other thing. He is under pressure at home from the FBI investigation into russsian collusion in his election. He needs a distraction. He has cosied up to Israel and Saudi Arabia. Is war with Iran inevitable now?
@Ro Molloy: they also bankroll the PA. Not quite as much – only $357M in 2016.
@Ro Molloy: spot on friend, Iran’s going to get invaded soon.
You could not make this up. This clown
Another stupid Trump move, going against the norm as usual and just keeping his own business interests and campaign supporting Israel’s happy. This man has caused nothing but controversy since starting office with countries all around the world. Bring back Obama, Clinton or even Bush to sort these issues before real war is started.
@HowUdoin: Clinton bush obamma Trump it doesn’t matter they all do as there told.
Another Stupid stunt, by the Dotard and he is a car crash in slow motion!
When Israel was re-established with the help of the German Army just before the outbreak of WW2 “TheTransfer agreement” it was because of sanctions the American Jewish Community imposed on Germany through there world wide business network. Once the Jewish people returned home to Israel,history tells us what happened to those that remained in Europe.
Now once again with America’s help we have another huge world event, Jerusalem is recognized as Israels Capitol by the most powerful nation on earth, this basically translates to “go take it back and we’ve got your back” this all goes to show one thing the Jewish are geniuses.
Not even a hundred years ago they where homeless now they have a capitol and a country and good luck to anybody that ever stands in there way.
Russia brought in Anti-semitism laws first.
Nazi Germany gave them back Israel.
And America’s given them back Jerusalem.
If these people are Evil we’re all F**k*d.
Well done Trump for injecting some realism into the moribund peace process. Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people and is here to stay. Arabs need to accept this and move on. Am Yisrael Chain!
What does Richard Boyd Barret think…..
Rings Starr… “ The biggest fool to ever hit the big time and all I gotta do is act naturally “
have your say