Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. ‘It was the right thing to do’
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday (6th) that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will move its embassy there, breaking with longtime U.S. policy.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious, that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more or less than recognition of reality. It’s also the right thing to do. Something that has to be done,” Trump said during a speech at the White House.
(ynetnews.com; ap.com)
Netanyahu calls Trump’s Jerusalem announcement a ‘historic landmark’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (6th) hailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy to the city as a “historic landmark.”
In a speech in Washington, Trump said his announcement marked the beginning of a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Netanyahu, in a pre-recorded video message, said that any peace deal with the Palestinians must include Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and he urged other countries to follow the U.S. lead by also moving their embassies to the city.
(reuters.com)
President Rivlin congratulates Trump on Jerusalem declaration
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said Wednesday (6th) following U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration, “I congratulate the president on his announcement of U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and on the expected move of the American embassy to Jerusalem. There is no more fitting or beautiful gift, as we approach 70 years of the State of Israel’s independence.”
“After the jubilee – fifty years after the reunification of the city – the time has come to bring tranquility to Jerusalem, and to see hope blossom in our capital, the place where pilgrims come from around the world,” he added.
President Rivlin concluded by stressing that “Jerusalem is not, and never will be, an obstacle to peace for those who want peace.”
(jpost.com; ynetnews.com)
Where was the fallout when Russia recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital? – Eyal Zisser
Russia announced in April that Jerusalem and not Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel. Yet Arab leaders, from the presidents of Syria and Egypt to the king of Saudi Arabia, make pilgrimages to the Kremlin to meet with Putin. Just a few weeks ago, Putin hosted a summit in Sochi with the presidents of Iran and Turkey. None of these leaders remonstrated with Putin’s declaration that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, and the matter did nothing to weaken Russia’s standing in the region.
(The writer is vice rector at Tel Aviv University)
(israelhayom.com)
Of Course Jerusalem is Israel’s capital – Samuel Rosner
For 3,000 years, Jerusalem has been the center of the Jewish people: a physical center for nearly 1,000 years when a temple was standing, and a center for prayer from afar after the Jews were dispersed around the globe. Every year at the end of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, and at the end of the Passover Seder, Jews recite, “Next year in Jerusalem.”
Jerusalem is unmistakably Israel’s capital, whether outsiders accept this fact or not. President Truman’s recognition of Israel on May 14,1948, was also met with violence – and it is still remembered as a great American moment.
(nyt.com)
Rouhani: Iran ‘will not tolerate’ Trump’s Jerusalem ‘violation’
TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blasted his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump’s plan to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital on Wednesday (6th), saying it would not be tolerated.
Rouhani also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by phone, describing Trump’s announcement as “wrong, illegitimate, provocative and very dangerous,” according to an account posted on the Iranian government’s website.
(afp.com; timesofisrael.com)
House passes Taylor Force Act targeting Palestinian funding for killers of Israelis
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Taylor Force Act in a voice-vote on Tuesday (5th). The bill would reduce U.S. funding for the Palestinians unless their official bodies stop subsidizing families of killers of Israelis. It would leave in place funding for Palestinian security forces and a handful of humanitarian enterprises. The Senate is considering an identical bill.
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs found in 2017 that the Palestinian Authority allocated more than $344 million for payments to Palestinian prisoners and their families, and to the families of deceased terrorists.
(jta.org)
Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Israel sign for East Med Gas Pipeline – Kostis Geropoulos
On Dec. 5, Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding for constructing an underwater gas pipeline from the Eastern Mediterranean region to Greece and Italy, which will allow the transportation of newly discovered Cypriot and Israeli gas reserves to mainland Europe.
Greek Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis said that the East Med Pipeline is “technically and economically viable.”
(neweurope.eu)
Israel’s F-35 stealth fighters declared operational, a year after their arrival
The Israeli Air Force declared its fleet of F-35 stealth fighter jets operational on Wednesday (6th), just less than a year after receiving the first aircraft.
Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said the F-35 jets, known in Israel as the “Adir” or mighty one, will give Israel new capabilities that are necessary in confronting the “constantly evolving and complex challenges” in the Middle East.
The Air Force now has in its fleet 9 F-35 stealth fighters.
(timesofisrael.com)
Israel Border Police save life of Palestinian in West Bank – Becky Brothman
Israel Border Police on Tuesday (5th) saved the life of a Palestinian man who fell unconscious in Hebron.
The man in his 20s stopped breathing in a house near the Cave of the Patriarchs, and Palestinians came to a checkpoint and asked for help.
A team of soldiers and a medic arrived at the scene and immediately began life-saving treatment. The man returned to consciousness and was transferred to a Red Crescent ambulance.
The man’s family thanked the officers for their actions.
(jpost.com)
