U.S. President Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

 In President Trump’s 11 minute and 27 second speech, on the 6th of December, 2017, he changed the course of history. Trump explains that in 1995, Congress adopted the ‘Jerusalem Embassy Act’ urging the federal government to relocate the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This act passed Congress by an overwhelming bipartisan majority. And was reaffirmed by unanimous vote of the Senate just six months ago in June.

For the past 22 years, the move was ‘waved’ every six months by each President since 1995, starting with Bill Clinton.  If the President did nothing, the American Embassy would have been moved to Jerusalem, but the waver was signed to delay the move every six months.  Though Israel has been waiting patiently for the move, still America knew that there would be a backlash not only from the Muslim world but from those around the world who did not want or agree with the move.

Trump was brave enough to take the huge step forward and allow Congress’ 1995 bill to be enacted.  Now, the repercussions that ‘everyone’ feared has been unleashed.  Here in Israel we have heard everything from, “This is a political crime”, to “This is a declaration of war!”  But we also have heard that “Trump is the only President to deal with the reality of Israel.”  It’s true that most people know that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, but Trump was willing to make a stand on the side of reality and announce that the United States recognizes that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the U.S. Embassy will be moved to the Capital as Congress passed into law.

Trump is not saying that Israel and Jerusalem is not-negotiable, but that the ‘Palestinians’ and Israelis, need to decide on what they want to negotiate including borders. Trump also said that everything is remaining as the status quo, nothing is changing, and it will take time for the American Embassy to be moved to Jerusalem. Trump said, “Peace is still in reach,” and we all hope all sides will reach for peace instead of violence. We hope that the Palestinian Authority will stop paying their people to kill Israelis, and we hope that the Arab children’s school textbooks will be changed to not incite children to “take the land” from the Israelis, but to live in peace with their neighbors.

Though most Israelis see the move as positive, they are not celebrating due to concern for their Arab neighbors.  But one Israeli told me, “We have been waiting 70 years to hear America recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”

Yesterday before Trump’s announcement, we met with an Arab friend from Bethlehem, who said that Muslim leaders were calling for ‘resistance’ or a third intifada, which is a ‘major’ uprising.  Today we saw violent demonstrations around Israel. But tomorrow……on Friday we hear that major violence will break out as it is the day off for Muslims, and they have Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.  Some will heed Hamas’ call for an intifada, and I was warned by an Arab friend not to leave my area tomorrow.  So, this would be a great time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem!  Psalm 122:6