Notwithstanding the decidedly mixed views I have on President Trump, yesterday was one of America’s finest hours. The President recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/12/06/statement-president-trump-jerusalem I do not gainsay those who feel that we are squandering opportunities for peace. But movement for peace must be mutual.
The Israelis have, for the almost 70 years of the existence of the Jewish state been open to negotiations. With the notable exceptions of the leaders of Egypt and Jordan there has been no reciprocal move. In fact, quite the contrary. Hamas digs “terror tunnels” under Israel’s border. The West Bankers have initiated, along with Gaza, their share of knifings, car rammings and suicide bombings. It is clear that only a capitulation by Israel, i.e. the evacuation of all Jewish citizens to other countries will satisfy them.
Yesterday, President Trump was well-spoken, Presidential and eloquent. He did what Presidents since Carter have promised to do and then welshed on. Israel is the only country in the region that aspires to good government, peace and democracy.
If this is one of America’s finest hours, the U.S. must have done awfully few fine acts in its existence. It’s a symbolic act and simply means that the Trump administration has no interest in developing an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement (as everyone knows the Palestinians strongly desire East Jerusalem to be capital of Palestine).
I fail to see what the benefit of this action is, other than vaguely pleasing some Israelis and pro-Israel individuals. A lot of other countries are pissed. We’re not receiving anything in exchange for this. Will Israel remember this moment and pay back their gratitude in some concrete way sometime in the future? Let’s just say I doubt it.
Well spoken? He sounded like he was gargling slippery rocks. And as far as his declaration regarding Israel’s capital- I’ll let the experts speak on that. My take is that Trump knows jack shit about why or why not this was a good idea, that he understands that it is likely to result in bloodshed, and he’s hoping for the resulting bloodshed to take attention away from the shitshow that he has brought to Washington.
Oh my God. I guarantee that Trump knew absolutely nothing about the history of Israel, of Palestine, of Jerusalem, or of anything pertaining to that part of the world, until he was coached by someone in his administration that it would appease some extreme Jews and evangelical Christians to say “Jerusalem is the capital.” And so he did it, and now there’s going to be even more conflict and violence somewhere far away while Trump sits in Florida eating well-done steak with ketchup and listening to Ted Nugent.
I’m very much pro-Israel, and yet I think this was a stupid, ham-handed, brain-dead blunder of the worst kind. It destroys America’s ability to serve as a mediator in the region. I have to hope Europe can step into the new diplomatic vacuum…before China does.
Hey, why not China? They have no particular emotional stake in the area. They would be the ideal neutral arbitrator, clamping down on both sides with equanimity. They would be oppressive but fair.
Of course, there was a time (e.g.- the Carter administration) when the US had a legitimate and productive role in the peace process. If that role has subsequently become a “charade” it’s only because its subsequent actions made it so. This last bit of insensitive arrogance and bullying totally destroys any remaining shred of legitimacy the US may have had remaining as a credible peace broker.
The US no longer has any credible claim as a peace broker there, its influence is shot, extremists have been emboldened on both sides, and violence is already breaking out. Meanwhile the US lost its international prestige literally overnight last November and it’s been all downhill since. Yeah, this is going to end well. “Proud moment”, indeed. :rolleyes:
Funny thing…Trump speaks like he’s having a stroke, and now, it’s announced that Trump is headed to Walter Reed next week for a check up. Medical retirement, please, medical retirement.
If anyone seriously thought he had a stroke, he would have been rushed to a doctor/hospital as soon as he was off-stage.
A stroke victim that displays any physical symptoms like that is an absolute emergency.
