MEDIA RELEASES

AIJAC welcomes Trump Administration announcement on recognition of Jerusalem

December 7, 2017

AIJAC welcomes Trump Administration announcement on recognition of Jerusalem
news_item/15970771.jpg

Media Release

 

AIJAC welcomes the announcement by the US Trump Administration yesterday that it will correct a historic injustice by recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and begin the process of moving the US Embassy to the city.

It is simply unconscionable that Israel is the only nation in the world that is effectively disallowed from choosing its own capital, even though Jerusalem has been the Jewish state’s capital since 1950, and the Knesset and other key buildings were built in the western part of the city that is undisputed.

At a time when there is a campaign underway by the Palestinians and their supporters to re-write history and deny all Jewish links to the city in resolutions passed in both UNESCO and the UN General Assembly, it is both common sense and basic decency for states to recognise what the reality is – Jerusalem simply is and has been Israel’s capital. No serious peace plan has ever been proposed which would see Jerusalem cease to be Israel’s capital in future.

Moreover, as President Trump’s measured and careful speech announcing the policy change made clear, there is absolutely no reason why recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital should pre-empt Israeli-Palestinian negotiations about the city’s future or borders, including the possibility the city could serve as the capital of a Palestinian state, as well as Israel’s, under a negotiated peace deal.

Allowing the threat of violence by some Palestinian groups and others to veto such a move would essentially amount to caving into extremists and terrorists.

Given the current destructive Palestinian campaign to re-write Jerusalem’s history, and the failure of the Palestinian leadership to return to peace negotiations since 2014, there is surely a case for other nations to consider following the example of the US, Russia, Vanuatu and the Czech Republic in recognising Israel’s right to select its own capital. Such recognition not only helps correct an injustice and end a discriminatory situation, it is strongly arguable that it is a positive move for promoting a renewed two-state peace process.

Mark Leibler, AC
National Chairman

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, AM
Executive Director

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES

RECENT POSTS

Screenshot 2025 05 30 At 11.22.09 AM

Albanese urged to visit Israel instead of ‘throwing mud’ over Gaza war: Joel Burnie on Sky News

Hamas' October 7 attack produced scenes that Israelis can never forget (Image: Hamas bodycam)

The hypocrisy of international outrage

“Palestine” may have a flag, but it does not currently meet the criteria for statehood. Prematurely recognising it will not bring the day it does closer (Image: Shutterstock)

Nine reasons premature recognition would be bad for Palestine

The raw anti-Israel hate on Western streets is a symptom of a deeper social malaise, writes Murray (Image: Shutterstock)

Biblio File: Israel and the pathologies of the West

A wounded Palestinian arrives at Al-Najjar Hospital in the Gaza Strip (Image: Anas Mohammed/ Shutterstock)

Scribblings: Interpreting Hamas’ casualty numbers

SORT BY TOPICS