Why Does Declaring Jerusalem The Capital Of Israel Matter?

What’s the story?

President Donald Trump is expected to address the issue of Jerusalem during a speech at the National Defense University on Wednesday. Politico reports that U.S. embassies have been placed on high alert for violent protests due to the possibility that the president may recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel according to U.S. policy.

But why does declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel matter?

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the holy city as their capital. In pursuit of Middle East peace and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most nations, including the U.S., have declined to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. To do so would be considered by many in the Arab world to be preemptively choosing sides, disqualifying the U.S. from participation in peace negotiations.

Yet a 1995 law, the Jerusalem Embassy Act, declared America's intention to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel. But the legislation also allowed the president to waive that requirement on national security grounds, which all presidents have done since its enactment.

Every six months they each made declarations to that effect, as required by the law. President Trump made his own declaration in June, but could reverse his position anytime. Moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem was one of his campaign promises, and is a decades-old goal of some members of the GOP.

What do you think?

Should President Trump recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel? Should he move the U.S. embassy? Why or why not?

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Pixabay / Creative Commons)