Commentaries And Analysis On President Trump's Decision To Recognize Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

Will Inboden, Foreign Policy: Will the U.S. Embassy’s Move to Jerusalem Matter?

Israel currently sits athwart two countervailing strategic trends.

The White House’s announcement today that the United States will be recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and potentially moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is commanding headlines and provoking consternation from some Middle Eastern leaders (for a balanced articulation of the many nuances and ramifications of this issue, see this insightful assessment by Dennis Ross and David Makovsky). As newsworthy as the Jerusalem announcement may be, will it be strategically significant, either in the immediate or long term?

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WNU Editor: Every commentary and analysis that I have read today paints a picture of doom and gloom on President Trump's decision to call Jerusalem the capital of Israel .... with the exception of this commentator who believes that there is a silver lining to this announcement .... Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital has a silver lining (Haroon Moghul, NBC). As to what is my take .... the Middle East is undergoing enormous changes right now, moving one's embassy to Jerusalem pales when compared to the destructive wars that have gripped/are gripping/and will be gripping the region. But it will impact future Israeli - Palestinian peace talks ... peace talks that (unfortunately) have been going nowhere for years. And what will be that impact?  A realization that both sides are even more farther apart in finding common ground on what to do with Jerusalem.

Commentaries And Analysis On President Trump's Decision To Recognize Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

Trump decision on Jerusalem could have deep repercussions -- Josef Federman, AP
For Abbas, come hell or intifada, Jerusalem is the hill to die on -- Avi Issacharoff, Times Of Israel
Trump move on Jerusalem highlights Arab divisions -- Zeina Karam, Associated Press
How will Trump's Jerusalem decision impact peace talks? -- CBS
Trump’s Jerusalem plan undermines U.S. interests and credibility, analysts say -- Saphora Smith, NBC
Jerusalem Trump: US recognition 'kiss of death' for peace process -- BBC
Donald Trump’s Jerusalem statement is an act of diplomatic arson -- Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian
Why is Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel? -- Debbie Lord, AJC.com
Trump's Jerusalem decision promises upheaval -- Stephen Collinson, CNN
Donald Trump to plunge Middle East into 'fire with no end' with Jerusalem speech -- Patrick Wintour, The Guardian
Trump’s plan to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel will derail decades of US diplomacy -- Sarah Wildman, VOX
‘Declaration of war’: Trump’s Jerusalem decision lights Middle East powder keg -- RT
How moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem could threaten peace prospects -- PBS
Why would moving the US embassy to Jerusalem be so contentious? -- Ian Black, The Guardian

Reaction To President Trump's Decision To Recognize Jerusalem As The Capital Of Israel

Reuters: Frustration and fury among Arabs at Trump's Jerusalem declaration

CAIRO/AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Arabs denounced President Donald Trump’s plan to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem as a slap in the face but few thought their governments would do much in response.

Trump phoned allies in the Middle East late on Tuesday to tell them the United States would acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Wednesday and prepare to move its embassy there.

“It incites feelings of anger among all Muslims and threatens world peace,” said Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Imam of Egypt’s al-Azhar mosque, one of Islam’s most important institutions.

“The gates of hell will be opened in the West before the East,” he added, warning of the possible reaction.

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More News On Reaction To President Trump's Decision To Recognize Jerusalem As The Capital Of Israel

Jerusalem split between ire and joy by 'historic' Trump shift -- AFP
Palestinians seethe at Trump's 'insane' Jerusalem move -- Reuters
Palestinians call days of rage over US Jerusalem plan -- Aljazeera
Jerusalem Trump: World reacts -- BBC
World Reacts to Trump's Jerusalem Plan -- Bloomberg
EU urges Palestinian 'restraint' over Trump Jerusalem plan -- AFP
Erdogan says US Jerusalem move 'plays into hands' of terrorists -- AFP
Jordan's King joins criticism over Trump's Jerusalem decision -- CNN
Iran 'will not tolerate' Trump Jerusalem 'violation': Rouhani -- AFP
'It's catastrophic': US allies reject Trump's expected Jerusalem pronouncement -- Washington Post
Pope Francis Voices ‘Deep Concern’ Over Trump Plan on Jerusalem -- New York Times

The Mother Of All Quagmires -- A Commentary

Israel-Hamas War: December 2008 - January 2009 War
(Photo from The BBC)

From Commentary Magazine:

I've just returned from a week-long trip through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Israel's border with Gaza, and I'm reminded all over again of what has been beaten into me during my many visits to the Middle East: there is no solution to the problems that vex that region right now. Most Americans are inherently optimistic and think just about any problem in the world can be solved. We put a man on the moon before I was born, but that was easy compared with securing peace between Israelis and Arabs.

The American Jewish Committee brought me and seven of my colleagues to Israel and set up interviews with Israeli military officers, politicians, academics, and journalists on the far-left, the far-right and at every point in between. One of my colleagues asked the eternal question during one of our meetings. “What is the solution to this problem?” He meant the Arab-Israeli conflict, of course, and the answer from our Israeli host was revealing in more ways than one. “You Americans are always asking us that,” he said and laughed darkly.

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My Comment: A commentary that I am in 100% agreement with.