In typical fake-news fashion, CBS News and other networks characterized President Trump’s announcement to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as “controversial.” Why is it controversial? Because most actions President Trump decides to take are so labeled by the dishonest television media networks.
The fact is that former-presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama each promised during their respective presidential campaigns to move the U.S. embassy in Israel, but each refused to do so. Moving the embassy makes perfect sense because Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the seat of power for the Jewish nation.
President Trump’s announcement was followed by threats of violence from the so-called, Palestinians. CBS News reported that the president’s announcement could thwart peace-talks and result in increased violence. But the truth is that the Israeli people live with terrorist threats and violence on a daily basis. Numerous Arab intifadas or uprisings have occurred since 2000. Most recently, Israeli citizens have been subjected to violence from stabbing, shooting and vehicular attacks by Palestinian Arabs.
Americans may recall that the Clinton administration and Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, offered Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority 66% of the West Bank and all of the Gaza strip in 2000 during protracted peace talks at Camp David. Arafat refused the deal and did not make a counter offer. Lasting peace settlements can never occur without the cooperation of two willing parties and that deficiency is the insurmountable obstacle in the Middle East.
Predictably, Israel’s Arab neighbors have opposed the president’s decision. They have been joined by Pope Francis, and by Germany, France and the European Union. Hostility toward the tiny nation of Israel has no modern rival apart from the belligerent nations of Iraq, North Korea and Syria.