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'This is huge,' says Sault observer of Trump's Jerusalem decision

'Peace is possible,' says Sault's Congregation Beth Jacob spokesperson; urges calm while details of possible peace talks to be worked out
20171206-U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump. Stock image

In an 11-minute speech delivered Wednesday, Dec. 6, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his decision to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy to the historic city.

“This is huge (for the U.S. to take such a step). I think it’s certainly a recognition of what the Israeli and Jewish people have recognized for 3,000 years, that Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel,” said Sault Ste. Marie’s Jeff Arbus, Congregation Beth Jacob spokesperson. 

Arbus told SooToday the move is deeply significant for Jewish people, in more than just a political sense.

“Spiritually and physically, prior to the creation of the modern state of Israel (in 1948), there was no homeland and the Jews were wandering, persecuted for 1,900 years, chased out of one country or another, slaughtered here and there, and of course the Holocaust, with no refuge, nowhere to go, nowhere to turn,” Arbus said.

“Even Canada turned away Jewish refugees (at Halifax in 1939), as did the United States for a period of time, so the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948 was a tremendous and practical measure, to create a homeland. Prior to that, my ancestors didn’t have that,” Arbus said.

Arbus, however, said it remains to be seen how the details of Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will play out.

“We’re all anxious to see what other details are tied up in President Trump’s plan. His recognition of Jerusalem as the capital is a vindication of the claim of the Jewish people and the Israeli people, but he hasn’t really provided a whole lot more by way of detail.”

Jerusalem is sacred to the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths.

Politically, both Israel and the Palestinians (who wish to have their own state of Palestine) claim the city as their capital (leading to countless attacks on Israel by Palestinian extremists over the years, with Israel taking drastic defence measures), and three major wars between Israel and neighbouring Arab states.

Israel regained complete control of Jerusalem in 1967’s Six-Day War.

Trump’s decision has led to angry protests across the Arab world. 

“I think it’s important, before people jump to conclusions and say ‘this is a slight to the Palestinian people,’ to wait and see what further details come out. Critics will be tempted to criticize but people should just take a deep breath and say ‘yes, it’s a big step’ but there’s going to be more detail and we should be mindful of that,” Arbus said.

“Is peace possible? Yes, absolutely peace is possible. Let’s hear from President Trump about how he would like to broker those peace talks because it sounds like that’s the direction he’s going,” Arbus said.

“I think our Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) should definitely recognize Jerusalem as the capital,” Arbus added.

“We cannot solve our problems by making the same failed assumptions and repeating the same failed strategies of the past. All challenges demand new approaches. My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,” Trump said in his speech Wednesday, stating his belief the move is a courageous new step toward a lasting peace deal for Israelis and Palestinians. 

In 1995 the U.S. Congress adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act urging the U.S. federal government to relocate America’s embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize the city as Israel’s capital.

There is a waiver in that legislation to delay both moves, that waiver used by U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama in the belief that would advance peace in the region and avoid extremist attacks and war over Jerusalem.

“After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result…it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said.

“This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It is something that has to be done,” Trump said.

Jerusalem is already the seat of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), the Israeli Supreme Court, the official residences of the country’s Prime Minister and President and several Israeli government ministries.

Members of Sault Ste. Marie’s Arabic/Islamic communities were not immediately available for comment.

Internationally, views on Jerusalem’s status differ.

Some countries, such as Britain, France and Germany, in addition to Arab states, advised Trump not to take his course of action.

Many countries state they believe Jerusalem is in fact Israel’s capital, but maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, urging Israel and the Palestinians to reach peace through a two-state solution, in which both Israel and a future Palestinian state can recognize Jerusalem as their capital.

“Canada considers the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. Canada does not recognize Israel's unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem,” states Global Affairs Canada’s website.

Before Trump’s speech, Global Affairs stated “Canada is a steadfast ally and friend of Israel and friend to the Palestinian people. Canada's longstanding position is that the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. This has been the policy of consecutive governments, both Liberal and Conservative."

In 1979, then-Opposition Leader Joe Clark promised to relocate Canada’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but after his Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government that same year, backed down on that plan, fearing economic reprisals from Arab states such as Saudi Arabia. 


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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