Shock, anxiety over Trump’s move to shift Embassy to Jerusalem

Opinion
Palestine Update  94

Shock, anxiety over Trump’s move to shift Embassy to Jerusalem

Even though Trump has been making suggestions to shift the US Embassy to Jerusalem, no one expected he would really do it. Previous Presidents had made similar campaign promises but have never strayed into this landmine-like space. The consequences are hard to predict. One thing is certain, history is rewritten and Trump has dislocated US’s place as a mediator. The region will be up in arms and even covert friends of Israel in the Arab world will disapprove. By shifting its Embassy to Jerusalem it is tacit recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. It may be a political victory for Israel in the short run but the mere decision has discarded UN resolutions, options for consensus, and added a major obstacle to peace.

Palestine Updates has collected selected articles with some variants in perspective and dimensions. There are repetitions and that only goes to show the consensus and similarity of opinion about the status of Jerusalem as the place that belongs to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

The world will watch with guarded attention the consequences of this drastic, impulsive and slapdash decision of the US administration. For certain, the consequences will be harsh. Will there be violence? Or, should the question really be, how many will die in the ‘call to rage”. What other consequences will it have in the short, medium, and long term to the peace process?

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Ranjan Solomon
Editor