By Steve Guggenheim, Correspondent
President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital caused major discussions, pro and con, in the U.S. and around the world. At the United Nations, major U.S. allies criticized the move.
Andrew Gross, Director of Political Affairs and adviser to the the Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, said ahead of the announcement they were told something big was coming. But he told a luncheon address at Beth El Synagogue that in Israel the news was basically greeted as no big deal. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital so it is not seen as a seismic shift. Gross quoted the consul general as saying it’s like moving the refrigerator from the living room to the kitchen because that’s where it belongs.
The Palestinians reacted with outrage and called for demonstrations. Gross said Trump’s announcement should not affect the peace process because Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is non-negotiable. They are just waiting for a responsible Palestinian leader to step up and start real negotiations toward a two-state solution that gives them part of the city as their capital. Other Arab nations are working with Israel but he said without a change the Palestinians will be left behind.
As for those western allies like Britain, France and Germany that criticized the move, Gross said they are not forward thinking. Israel pays little attention to what happens at the U.N. since the organization is so critical of the country. He says there would be major outrage if the attacks against Israel happened to any other country, but since it’s Israel the criticism is of the Jewish state not of those against it.
When Beth El Rabbi Jay Kornsgold heard the news he was happy because in the 1995 Congress, both Democrats and Republicans voted to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He said every other country in the world gets to determine where its capital is and the same thing should be done for Israel. Jerusalem was the only capital city in the world that the U.S. neither recognized nor declared as the location of its embassy.
Kornsgold pointed out the U.S. embassy, which won’t move for quite some time, will be in Western Jerusalem. Should there be a peace agreement it is likely a Palestinian capital will be in East Jerusalem.
He also said it’s a logical move since the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, is in Jerusalem, as is the prime minister’s office. And when foreign dignitaries visit Israel their meetings are held in Jerusalem.
But he did have a concern when hearing the news that violence would break out as the Palestinians reacted to the Trump announcement. So far, though, he said the reaction has been relatively muted.
Kornsgold said it’s important that President Trump did not set-up peace terms for Jerusalem and voiced continued support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
The Beth El rabbi also said this should not affect anyone’s travel to Israel and that it is absolutely safe to go. He adds that because of the violence in the U.S. he is no longer asked about the safety of travel to the Jewish state.
