Not since Truman has the US showed this much courage in regard to Israel!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

MOVING OF EMBASSY TOOK GUTS!

 by Steve Fair

On Monday, the nation of Israel turned seventy years old.  That is of course modern Israel.  Israel is the land promised to Abraham by God about 4,100 years ago.  This small parcel of 8,000 square miles is about 11% the size of Oklahoma or approximately the size of the state of New Jersey.  More battles over this small piece of ground have been fought than any in the history of the world.  Three monotheistic religions- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- all have sacred sites in Jerusalem.  The Muslims want to spilt the city, but Israel’s parliament and current leadership do not want to concede what Abraham was promised. 

      For years the American embassy in Israel was in Tel Aviv, but on Monday the embassy was moved to Jerusalem.  Twenty three years after the U.S.  Congress passed a law moving the embassy to Jerusalem, it finally happened.  President Trump, who did not attend,  but sent his daughter and son-in-law to represent him at the opening, appeared via video and said,  “We extend a hand in friendship to Israel, the Palestinians and to all of their neighbors. May there be peace. May God bless this embassy.”   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move  "courageous" and "momentous."  "What a glorious day. Remember this moment!" Netanyahu said to the applauding crowd. "President Trump, by recognizing history, you have made history. All of us are deeply moved. All of us are deeply grateful." Two observations:

     First, Trump’s move was courageous.  Since Congress passed the mandate to move 23 years ago, three presidents from both Parties have failed to order the move.  Moving the embassy was seen as so controversial because it would stir up the Muslims and they were unwilling to risk that.  Trump had made the moving of the embassy e a part of his campaign promises and like it or not he fulfilled it.

     Second, a nation has a right to declare where their Capitol is.  Just because the United Nations says that a nation can’t put their Capitol somewhere doesn’t take away their right to do it.  President Harry Truman’s recognition of Israel as a nation in 1948 took great courage.  Trump’s recognition they can decide where their Capitol also took courage. 

     Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East and strategic in US foreign policy in the region.  During the Obama presidency the relationship with Israel was tense at best.  Obama and Netanyahu didn’t mesh well and when the US refused to vote on a critical UN Security Council vote on Jerusalem, relations between the US and Israel moved to their lowest point ever.  Trump did the right thing in moving the embassy and while controversial, it shows this president is not your standard run of the mill politician. He has guts!