U.S. and Israeli officials celebrated the relocation of the embassy of the United States to Jerusalem this week. That long-promised move was, to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a bold and courageous decision, proof that U.S. President Donald Trump is Israel's best friend. Many others, including many Americans and Israelis, are not so sure. Contrary to the president's claims, the move will make peace harder to reach and will likely embolden hardliners on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide.
Of all the issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians, none cuts as deep as the status of Jerusalem. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim it as their capital. Since its final disposition will be an essential component of a peace agreement, virtually every other government has located its embassy in Tel Aviv. In 1995, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution stating that "Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel," and U.S. presidents have for many years pledged to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Once in office, however, all hesitated after recognizing the problems such a move would create.
That failure to act was like catnip to Trump, who not only pledged to move the embassy but in December officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and then, earlier this week, opened the "new U.S. Embassy." (In reality, the existing consulate was upgraded in status.)