Israel Palestine Conflict: Explained (4) Jerusalem, US-Israel relationship, Jerusalem Embassy Act, Pro-Israel US, Trump role
Jerusalem, located between Israel and West Bank has been at the heart of the peace process. The Holy City is home to the holy sites of the three Abraham religions namely Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The 1947 UNGA plan had proposed to give Jerusalem a unique status of internationally administered city.
Israeli right has claimed Jerusalem entirely, stating that it has been the capital of Jewish people for 3000 years and Israel for 70 years. In 1980, the Israeli right declared a ‘complete and unified’ Jerusalem as its capital. United Nations Security Council passed a resolution declaring the move “null and void” and instructed the 13 nations which had embassies in Jerusalem to shift to Tel Aviv.
Considering the contentions nature of Jerusalem it was deliberately left out the Oslo peace accords in 1993. Palestinians views East Jerusalem as their future capital. The international community has called upon both players to maintain status quo and resolve the issue by negotiations.
US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017. United States has been always been pro-Israel. It looked the other way when Israel acquired nuclear capability and has protected Israel in United Nation Security Council. US has provided Israel with advanced weaponry and technology.
Strong Zionist lobby has been cited as the reason for this pro-Israel stand of America. However, the relationship is more complex. Israel has been a reliable ally of US in West Asia. During cold war, Israel was a bulwark against Soviet influence in the region.
In 1995, the US Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act calling on the United Sates to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The law allowed the US government to postpone its application for six months to secure ‘’national security interests’’.
Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barrack Obama perpetually postponed the recognition every six months given the political, legal and ethical implications pertaining to the issue.
Donald Trump during his election campaign promised to shift the embassy to Jerusalem. He unwillingly postponed the recognition in June 2017. But in December 2017, he has recognized Jerusalem as Israeli capital. Through he has not given a timeline for the shifting of embassy; the move has endorsed Israeli occupation and dashed the dreams and hopes of millions of Palestinian suffering Israeli oppression in East Jerusalem.
Move over, the recognition is a blow to the peace process as Jerusalem would have been integral to any final settlement on the issue. Thus the move infringes on the Palestinian right to self determination and right to return to Palestine.
The two most after discussed option are,
- Two state solution which proposes to establish an independent Palestine and Israel and
- One state solution which proposes to merge Israel, West bank, and Gaza strip into a single democratic country.
To find a solution, Israel should halt settlements (for it creates what some have termed as “new facts on ground”). All stakeholders must be brought to the negotiating table and multilateral talks should be initiated to find a permanent settlement to the issue. The Oslo peace accords should be used as a foundation to build upon and carry forward the peace process.