The wrong guy, the wrong way, but the right call

There has been a large outcry over President Donald Trump’s decision Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the American embassy there from Tel Aviv.

Trump is being accused of fostering additional violence in the Middle East, of putting Americans working in the region at risk and squandering America's standing as an “honest broker” in peace talks.

All of those things may be true but those concerns ignore the real question: is recognizing Jerusalem the right and responsible thing to do? The short answer is yes. During his short tenure as prime minister, Joe Clark said he would do it, before eventually backing down. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush promised in campaign speeches that they would do so but never did once they reached the White House.

The Oval Office Oaf, in the wrong way and for all the wrong reasons, has followed through on his campaign promise and, most importantly, has done what should have happened decades ago.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The central government and all of its related agencies are based out of Jerusalem. That is the choice of the Israeli people and both of of respect to the country, as well as ease of access to politicians and bureaucrats, having the embassy in Jerusalem, instead in Tel Aviv, 70 kilometres away, makes practical sense. Trump’s move on behalf of the United States is the final recognition of a country that has existed for nearly 70 years in the modern era and is not going anywhere in the short or long term.

Of course, the Nincompoop-In-Chief did it all wrong, as usual.

In exchange for the formal recognition of Jerusalem and moving the American embassy there, Trump should have insisted Israel immediately stop the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory and get back to the negotiating table with the final goal being the establishment of an independent Palestine. Trump could still potentially make that demand in the future but one would think the so-called dealmaker extraordinaire would have made this transaction up front as a way to kickstart the peace process. Instead, he has given Israel a concession it has long desired for nothing in return.

Not only did he do it wrong, Trump's decision had nothing to do with Middle Eastern politics and everything to do with Trumpland politics. The cinnamon dingbat is simply appeasing a wealthy Jewish supporter who gave more than $20 million to his election campaign, as well as evangelical Christians who see Jerusalem as the holy home of both the Jewish and Christian faiths.

Of course, the reality in Jerusalem is another story. The east side of the city belongs to the Palestinians and is literally walled off from the Israeli side. As Stephen Colbert tweeted with glee Wednesday: “I’m surprised Trump didn’t declare Jerusalem as America’s capital. Then he’d be able to say we have a wall.”

Unfortunately, the indignation and scorn from American allies and international critics targets the man and not the merits of the actual decision. David Gergen, an advisor for four different American presidents on both sides of the political aisle, thundered on CNN that the deaths and violence that may occur as a result of this decision are on Trump’s hands. Nonsense. If the Palestinians or anyone else in the Arab world decides that further terrorist acts are justified in light of the United States recognizing Jerusalem and moving its embassy, that’s on them, not Trump. Furthermore, will Gergen then accept the responsibility of the advice he gave to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton that led to the death of both Israelis and Palestinians in the years of so-called peace since the 1967 war?

What much of the criticism towards Trump intentionally ignores is the status quo was a sham of stability. Palestinians are no closer to an independent state than they were 40 years ago. Israel is no closer to long-term security. The complaining, particularly by American allies and critics like Gergen, wrongfully equates the status quo with peace and paints Trump’s move as one that creates uncertainty and conflict. But what has really changed? In the Arab world, America and its allies have been seen for decades as friends of Israel and not the Palestinian people, that when forced to choose, the United States, Canada and Europe will always put Israel’s interest first, for both racial and religious reasons. Trump merely spoke truth to what previous presidents and world leaders have always said loud and clear with their actions and their diplomatic doubletalk.

Trump’s decision is both ignorant and risky but it is also a long overdue reframing of the discussion about Israel and Palestine. It may lead to further violence but that was inevitable with the status quo, which has more than 40 years of failure to show it was not the right path to a lasting peace. Canada should also stop its twofaced policy and admit the political reality by recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move its embassy there, too.

Now is also the time for Trump, Justin Trudeau and others to also call on both the Israelis and Palestinians to stop the endless posturing and get serious about a two-state solution.

If Israel doesn’t think it needs to come to the table, an American or Canadian ambassador based in Jerusalem would be able to deliver the news of economic sanctions and reduced aid to the Israeli government face to face.

Neil Godbout is managing editor of The Prince George Citizen.