There is no doubt that Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was done for two reasons: (a) Fulfill a campaign promise to the evangelical Christians and (b) a bit of "realpolitik" in that for Israel, Jerusalem is the de facto capital -- the idea of the international community has always been that the world couldn't recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal because of the UN's "two-state solution". This "solution" has been on the books for decades and neither Hamas nor Israel want that outcome.
The first reason that Trump decided to make Jerusalem the capital of Israel is a political, no cost, promise he made to the evangelical Christians. The big question is why the evangelicals are so keen on having Isreal as the capital of the country. Several years ago, 60 minutes had a segment on the evangelical movement -- at the core, it is this:
Now, Trump's familiarity with the bible is somewhat limited -- he's personally known all 7 deadly sins (hahaha) and has probably only been to church for funerals, marriages etc etc. I always thought this was endless BS, because odds are that diplomatic recognition of the reality of Israel -- that its capital is Jerusalem was a fig leaf, although if he thinks that its all BS why not recognize Taiwan as a separate country...because that has real consequence on his friendship with the Chinese government.
Now, what will all this mean in reality; obviously America has been denounced by the Muslim community but there's not much strength in all of that -- sure people have died in demonstration, but it is not entirely clear if they would not have died anyway, rockets were shot at Israel, but that happens all the time anyway. The reality is that it changes little from the defacto support that America has given, for the past 40 years to Israel. The fact is that the two-state solution is dead, has been dead for a long time, that neither side has much interest in getting a deal done.
The real changes in the Middle East are what's going on in Saudi Arabia, that's where the rubber meets the road in the region. It's certainly not in Istanbul. The Palestinians have been used as a scapegoat nation for the past 60 years, they have been kept separate with the idea that they would eventually reclaim the land from which they were chased away. We are now multiple generations removed (2018 will mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of these numerous (59) camps). Few survivors remain of the initial exode, they are kept as a reminder that "someday" they land that is Israel will return to the proper "owners" -- In my opinion, the wait is long long from over. Again, the reality is that in the 1980s (35 years after the formation of the camps) there was still a chance that a solution could be found that would accommodate both Jews and Muslims -- that day has long past. Both sides have hardened their views, aggressions on both sides have made the whole problem more intractable -- other conflicts have taken over.
Today, the status quo is the solutions! The displaced are dying of old age with a leadership out of touch and out of ideas and energy. The Israeli live with the "fait accomplie" that Isreal is and will remain, including the west banks -- that Israel won out of the 7 day war.
Trump made Sheldon Alderton happy (one of Trump's biggest and earliest supporter) and evangelicals...well they think what they think, but it's not a defacto recognition by America that Jerusalem is the capital if Isreal that will change anything in the relationship between Hamas and the Isreaeli governement.
The first reason that Trump decided to make Jerusalem the capital of Israel is a political, no cost, promise he made to the evangelical Christians. The big question is why the evangelicals are so keen on having Isreal as the capital of the country. Several years ago, 60 minutes had a segment on the evangelical movement -- at the core, it is this:
The great world war which will engulf the Middle East at the end of the age is an outgrowth of the world situation during the time of the great tribulation. The Roman Empire formed earlier has now extended its power “over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Revelation 13:7). The world government formed at the beginning of the great tribulation is scheduled in prophecy to endure for forty-two months or three and a half years (Revelation 13:5). At its beginning there is no serious challenge of the power and authority of the world ruler, and he is able to assume supreme power not only in the political field, but also receives recognition and worship as God and controls the economic power of the entire world. His reign is afflicted, however, by a series of great judgments of God described in the breaking of the seals, the blowing of the trumpets, and the outpouring of the vials of the wrath of God (Revelation 6:1—18:24). The disruptive force of these judgments is keenly felt throughout the world and it soon becomes evident that the promised utopia which his rule was designed to produce is not going to be fulfilled.And I'm not kidding even a little bit, for the evangelicals, making Jerusalem the "capital" of Israel will bring the end of the world, and Jesus will come to earth (second coming) and there will be a 1,000 year of peace for his disciples. Some ex-members of Congress held that belief; most famously Micheal Bachmann, Ted Cruz, and Marc Rubio.
Now, Trump's familiarity with the bible is somewhat limited -- he's personally known all 7 deadly sins (hahaha) and has probably only been to church for funerals, marriages etc etc. I always thought this was endless BS, because odds are that diplomatic recognition of the reality of Israel -- that its capital is Jerusalem was a fig leaf, although if he thinks that its all BS why not recognize Taiwan as a separate country...because that has real consequence on his friendship with the Chinese government.
Now, what will all this mean in reality; obviously America has been denounced by the Muslim community but there's not much strength in all of that -- sure people have died in demonstration, but it is not entirely clear if they would not have died anyway, rockets were shot at Israel, but that happens all the time anyway. The reality is that it changes little from the defacto support that America has given, for the past 40 years to Israel. The fact is that the two-state solution is dead, has been dead for a long time, that neither side has much interest in getting a deal done.
The real changes in the Middle East are what's going on in Saudi Arabia, that's where the rubber meets the road in the region. It's certainly not in Istanbul. The Palestinians have been used as a scapegoat nation for the past 60 years, they have been kept separate with the idea that they would eventually reclaim the land from which they were chased away. We are now multiple generations removed (2018 will mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of these numerous (59) camps). Few survivors remain of the initial exode, they are kept as a reminder that "someday" they land that is Israel will return to the proper "owners" -- In my opinion, the wait is long long from over. Again, the reality is that in the 1980s (35 years after the formation of the camps) there was still a chance that a solution could be found that would accommodate both Jews and Muslims -- that day has long past. Both sides have hardened their views, aggressions on both sides have made the whole problem more intractable -- other conflicts have taken over.
Today, the status quo is the solutions! The displaced are dying of old age with a leadership out of touch and out of ideas and energy. The Israeli live with the "fait accomplie" that Isreal is and will remain, including the west banks -- that Israel won out of the 7 day war.
Trump made Sheldon Alderton happy (one of Trump's biggest and earliest supporter) and evangelicals...well they think what they think, but it's not a defacto recognition by America that Jerusalem is the capital if Isreal that will change anything in the relationship between Hamas and the Isreaeli governement.
Comments