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Peace grows more remote with U.S. Jerusalem embassy move, violence

48 Comments
By Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick

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Trump policy in Middle East is: Gasoline on fire.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

...our allies around the world, which in the Middle East are Israel and Saudi Arabia

True - but, particularly in the Middle East, today's ally is tomorrow's foe. In such a situation, burning bridges is unwise.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

As if peace was a possibility anyway.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

I know people like Trump, those whose view is incapable of perceiving shades of gray. The fault often affects personal relationships to an extent that disinterested observers often perceive as irrationality bordering on insanity. Trump's personal relationships - particularly with his estranged daughter, Tiffany - bear this out. Once you're on the bad side of this type, there is no getting back.

So: No moves towards a solution, only further solidification of hardline positions on both sides as long as Trump remains president. Trump's successor will have a hell of a mess to deal with.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

@zichi - agree with most of your comment. Matt's comment about other non-lethal methods first references tear gas though, and his use of "other" is correct.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Trump grabs a stick, pokes it into the hornets nest and gives it a good shake.

That is US foreign policy under Trump. In fact that's US policy period under this President.

The thing is: he doesn't have to live with the ramifications. Trump's actions will produce retaliatory reactions that will keep coming for generations.

I am disgusted with the Israeli justice minister's shameful comparison of Trump to Churchill. Churchill was a courageous military officer who served in war with distinction, he was a public servant throughout his entire life. Trump served only one person - himself. He dodged the draft, he refused to pay his bills, he has shady business connections with the enemies of Israel and even of his own country.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

They keep saying that the embassy move makes peace closer - they keep saying that, but not once have they showed how

Don't say it; show it

What's the roadmap?

Peace may not happen anyway, but what the embassy move did is make the current situation worse

The previous situation was relatively peaceful, even if it wasn't getting closer to peace

Dan Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt who now teaches at Princeton University, suggested Trump's administration could regain some credibility among the Palestinians if it were to pledge to open a U.S. embassy in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital, when a Palestinian state came into being.

"If he says that, then the U.S. is back in business," he said. "What is the likelihood of that? ... Pretty meager."

Indyk said the decision "hasn’t advanced peace at all.

"The idea that ... it's going to convince the Palestinians that now they should come back to the table is a fundamental misrepresentation of what they've done," he added. "They've driven the Palestinians away from the table and given them the excuse not to come back."

3 ( +3 / -0 )

US embassy moved to Jerusalem. Yasafar Arafat must be spinning in his grave. Btw, nice colorful pic of the Marine Color Guards.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Trump and the current Israeli Government want a one state solution. All of the west bank will eventually become Israeli land and any Palestinians left will be locked away in Gaza. One way to achieve this is to proclaim America supports Israel but not Palestine and by moving the US embassy to a contested city in support of Israel, the US has removed itself from having to broker a deal. Perhaps Russia or the EU will step up to attempt to fill the void.

The Palestinians have been under virtual "house arrest" for 70 years. Invaded and with no real freedom the Palestinians are an endangered people. They cry out for justice and it falls on deaf ears. They struggle to break the bonds and get slaughtered for trying to get freedom. A real shame on the UN security council and indeed the world for not doing nearly enough to fix this.

Embargo Israel from all trade and bring them to a place where a two state solution is their preferred option to isolation from the world. No violence, just support for a battered people in need of urgent help.

Once a battered people themselves, the Israelis have now turned into the very monster that itself batters others. It has been allowed to go on for much too long. Time for change.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

You might call it ironic that Netanyahu and Israel talks about their victimhood and the persecution of Jews while pushing Palestinians further and further into into the ghetto their trapped in, not recognizing them as a people, shooting them indiscriminately for trying to stand up for themselves, testing out chemicals like white phosphorus on them in schools, including on children, and with Israel demanding the world obey because they are right. You MIGHT, if you didn't call it already. We knew this would happen, and this is as much on Trump for supporting that lunatic Netanyahu as it is on him to begin with. He clearly wants this, and people like Bolton want this. I don't think Trump wants war, per se, I think he's just so clueless and greedy that he saw a deal to satisfy a donor, and to get his son-in-law off the hood to an extent, so he did it without thinking of hte repercussions. Then of course, it wsn't his fault!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No peace can come form asymmetrical power. There is no incentive to stop what they are doing from the Israel side after this time they are the Nazi when it comes to power. Not saying they are as bad as the Nazi but they have the power that they had and the propaganda machine they had to keep public opinion on their side as well as other assets. So as long as there is no equal there is no chance of a good outcome for the Palestinian. Same goes from much of human existence. When people are of equal ability they tend to hold off on the violence because they don't want the violence to hit them also. The Palestinian are barely able to mount much of anything when it comes to an offensive if they could this problem would long ago have been solved. My take is that in the coming years the Palestinian will loose most of the land they have and will be stateless.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The new ME policy:

Might is Right.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

How's Trump going to keep his promise to bring peace to the region by creating war with this action, clearly meant as a favour to his son-in-law and casino magnate?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Dan Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt who now teaches at Princeton University, suggested Trump's administration could regain some credibility among the Palestinians if it were to pledge to open a U.S. embassy in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital, when a Palestinian state came into being.

"If he says that, then the U.S. is back in business," he said. "What is the likelihood of that? ... Pretty meager."

Exactly. Trump's one-sided ME strategy is going nowhere. Appointing Jared Kushner as senior adviser and ME 'peace broker' was DT's first mistake. It was a strong indication of Trump's lopsided approach and sent the wrong message to both Israelis & Palestinians i.e. "Israel, we've got your back", "Palestinians, we'll never be on your side no matter what". The dice were loaded from the start.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I am disgusted with the Israeli justice minister's shameful comparison of Trump to Churchill. Churchill was a courageous military officer who served in war with distinction, he was a public servant throughout his entire life.

It was also Churchill who failed to properly carry out the mandate for Palestine while he was in office. He and those around him are at the root of why the Palestinian state was never formally established before the mandate expired, and why we find ourselves in this crisis. In fact, the Palestinians are planning a lawsuit against Britain for its failure to carry out its responsibilities under the mandate. It's probably going nowhere, but at least they are pointing the finger in the right direction.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Is there something wrong with tear gas or other non lethal methods?

(Sarcastic remark following) Yes there is a lot wrong from Israel's point of view, if they dont kill the buggers they live to fight another day!

Trump doesn't care either, he just loves pushing people around, because he knows in the end if there is any killing that's going to happen, he personally won't have to face it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

First of all, they weren't "Palestinian protesters." They were assailants. They were attackers.

That's what the oppressors said about South Africans, Irish and others who were brutalised.

Those people earned their freedom through bloodshed, hardship and generations of demonisation.

Palestine will be free and hopefully the murderous junta will be brought to justice.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Anyone out there still delusional enough to think Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The United States obviously does not want peace.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Bass: He did what he promised in the campaign

If Trump was presenting a comprehensive peace plan that included the embassy, we wouldn't be in this mess. But Trump doesn't build. He just took a hammer to the peace process and shattered it, and you are too much of a fanboy to call him out on it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Palestinians wanted Jerusalem is the capital of a proposed second state.

That was never going to happen.

Even the Saudi's told them to take whats on offer.

In saying that the Israeli's are a disgrace in using lethal fire on unarmed civilians

Is there something wrong with tear gas or other non lethal methods?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Genocide

0 ( +5 / -5 )

theFritzXToday  03:19 pm JST

As if peace was a possibility anyway.

I mean, it's certainly not a possibility if our right-wingers go out of their way to attack the Palestinian people collectively, and then use their angry response to justify an argument that they are inferior people.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Trump wages a new war in the Meddle East.....what's the reason? Follow money.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nations often make peace when they are on the brink of mutual destruction. Maybe that's Trump's strategy with NK & the middle east. I doubt it though, that would require 'planning' in foreign policy matters, and he's obviously winging it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I wish peace to Israel and Palestine and that's shame what this Trump family did celebrating the embassy there. I wish and hope other countries embassies don't go Trumpland way to move there, to be involved and diplomats be killed. What a shame to see one man policy to find in this couple of days so many people killed and injured. Against Jerusalem to be a capital of Zionist Israel , stay capital Tel Aviv and peace to both side. I don't hate Jews but hate Zionist Israel govt. And Trump be with them, shame on them!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Anyone out there still delusional enough to think Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize?

I was wondering when someone was gonna bring this up. Hard to believe but yes there are still people who think that.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I haven’t heard a single Trump fan talk about a benefit to this dim-witted move.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If Trump was presenting a comprehensive peace plan that included the embassy, we wouldn't be in this mess.

In order for that to happen, the Palestinians need to recognize Israel and its right to exist, if they don’t or won’t and so far never have, you cannot have any intro to peace talks.

But Trump doesn't build.

Lol....uh-huh...

He just took a hammer to the peace process and shattered it, and you are too much of a fanboy to call him out on it.

Let’s be real, other than capitulation and leaving the land, there will never be peace between the two. The Palestinians won’t accept a 2 State solution. Let’s cut through the BS.

The international community considers the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories illegal under international law, because the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibits countries from moving population into territories occupied in a war.

And most of them especially during that time and moment were extremely anti-Semitic. So it’s no surprise.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Shimazaki, 'peaceful protests' - how ingenuous.

In an ideal world, peaceful protest would win back that which has been stolen.

In an ideal world, that which has been stolen wouldn't have been stolen in the first place.

How would you feel, for example, if your country was invaded and your people killed and land taken from you?

Would you peacefully protest?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

same sort of neo-fascist state that the US has become under Trump.

So it ALL started with Trump?

LOL. Got to be the funniest thing Ive read on here in awhile.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Genocide

No, suicide.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@zichi: the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibits countries from moving population into territories occupied in a war.

So you link to Amnesty International to make your argument against Israel’s self defense? Those guys are only bested by the Iranians in their hatred of Jews. I am sure the Geneva Convention prohibits terrorism too but that doesn’t stop the “International Community” from repeatedly condemning Israel whenever they counter terrorist attacks and threats against the Israeli people. Amnesty would like nothing better than for Israel to completely give up their own self defense and stand by while Arabs and Palestinians resume their attempts to wipe Israel off the map.

Which side turns down every serious peace agreement that involves a two state solution? Hint - it’s not the Israelis.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Trump policy in Middle East is: Gasoline on fire.

That would depend on the person you are asking.

Anyone out there still delusional enough to think Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize?

Doesn't matter, they gave Obama one for nothing, so whether Trump gets one or not is totally irrelevant. He did what he promised in the campaign which 3 previous Presidents promised and never followed through, but hey, they needed the votes, that was more important, at least Trump didn't care about votes or how popular the idea is to some people, it is equally as important to millions of people that approve of this move. Funny how the media is once again focusing ONLY on the people that are outraged by this move from the President.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I haven’t heard a single Trump fan talk about a benefit to this dim-witted move.

I didn’t vote for Trump but I favor this move. Israel is a strong ally. The Palestinians and their associated terrorist groups are religious supremacists who seek to eliminate a sovereign country from the map. It’s an easy choice to favor an ally over those hostile to Jews, Christians, and Western civilization.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 was passed by a bipartisan majority in the US Congress. It called for the recognition of an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In June of 2017 the US Senate unanimously (90 to 0) reaffirmed the Jerusalem Embassy Act and called on the the president and the US government to comply with the law.

The Jerusalem Embassy Act has been on the books for 23 years. If people have a problem with the move then they should take it up with the 104th Congress for passing the Act and the 115th Senate for unanimously re-affirming it.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@zichi: And since 1948 Israel has expanded its borders into land designated has Palestinian land, and driven out millions of refugees into Jordan.

Always in response to an invasion or very serious security threats. Maybe the Palestinians and their terrorist allies in Hamas and Hezbollah should learn from their mistakes. Only people hurting the Palestinians are themselves. Accept Israel’s existence and they can have their state. People up the aggression and Israel will continue to be forced to defend themselves as best they can.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Trump is not responsible for the stupid, violent 'response' of the palestinians. Thats completely on them.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

The Palestinians and the Arabs in the region have never accepted Israel. They haven’t since the day Israel was created by the UN after WWII. They attacked from the get go and haven’t let up since. They hate Jews so much that they have voluntarily given up their own state as a means to deligitimize Israel. They have proven through their rejection of the Oslo accords that they will not accept a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Their cannot be any peace until Israel is accepted and terrorists groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, along with terror supporting states like Iran, are defeated.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Five times did Israel offer land to Palestine with only one condition: Peace.

Five times did Palestine reject their offer.

You cannot blame Israel for defending their own, recognized, sovereign nation of over 3,000 years from an invading force of terrorists.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

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