On Dec. 6, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in a move that has many people conflicted. Below are the the statements from two prominent Jewish organizations, Jewish Democratic Council of America and AIPAC. But we want to know what you think, and this issue is too nuanced for a simple poll. So please let us know what you think and how you feel about this historic announcement. And as always, please be respectful.
JDCA Statement on President Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement
Today, former Congressman Ron Klein (D-FL), chair of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that his administration recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and will begin the process of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem:
“We recognize that Israel’s capital is Jerusalem and believe the United States can and should move our embassy to a location in Jerusalem under undisputed Israeli sovereignty. Any steps to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv must immediately acknowledge other strategic foreign policy goals, including an unequivocal commitment to a two-state solution and regional peace between Israel and its neighbors and that final-status issues must be determined through direct negotiations between the parties as part of that two-state solution.
“In his first year in office, President Trump’s foreign policy has been largely naïve and haphazard. As is typical with much of his rhetoric, today’s announcement is short on details and substance. It is being issued in a vacuum, without context or consideration to many of the region’s most imminent issues impacting the vital national security interests of both the U.S. and Israel.
“Unlike under Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the current administration has neglected efforts to meaningfully support peace between Palestinians and Israelis. President Trump has abdicated America’s traditional role in the region and created a void that Russia is quickly and dangerously filling. Also, his disclosure of sensitive Israeli intelligence to Russia greatly undermined Israel’s security, not to mention damaged our relationships with countless other allies.
“While it is right to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, this is the time for bold moves toward regional peace among the parties, not rhetoric that is unmatched by fully thought-out policy or the hard diplomatic work required for such important steps.”
AIPAC Statement on President Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement
Today is a historic day for the U.S.-Israel relationship. For the first time, the United States officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
AIPAC has always supported American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital city, and we commend President Trump’s momentous announcement and decision to initiate relocating the U.S. embassy there.
This recognition is a long-overdue step to implement U.S. law. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 declared that Jerusalem “should remain an undivided city,” and “the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem.” AIPAC strongly supported passage of that act, which Congress overwhelmingly adopted on a bipartisan basis.
Importantly, relocating the embassy to Jerusalem does not in any way prejudge the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, to include establishing two states for two peoples and resolving Palestinian claims to the eastern portion of the city and the disposition of holy places. Rather, this announcement acknowledges that Jerusalem will continue to be Israel’s capital as part of any conceivable final status agreement.
The Jewish people have maintained a constant presence in Jerusalem, their holiest city, for more than 3,000 years. Israel declared the city its capital following its reestablishment in 1948. When the United States ultimately relocates its embassy to Jerusalem, it will treat Israel as it does every other country with which we have diplomatic relations.
Today’s action by President Trump is an important, historic step for which we are grateful. We urge the president to quickly relocate our embassy to Israel’s capital.
