19 Kislev 5778
7 December 2017
SPECIAL MESSAGE
Israelstreet cannot thank President Trump enough for his historic, courageous, and exhilarating speech last night in which he declared that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that the American Embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem!
Fun “Photo” of the Day!
This photoshopped version of the iconic picture of the brave soldiers who liberated the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall in 1967 has gone viral today on social media. Your humble servant hopes it puts a smile on your face.
A picture of the Old City Wall last night:
American flags were everywhere last night from this projection on part of the Old City Wall to Safra Square where Israelis were dancing in the street (photo: Jerusalem Municipality).
Highlights from Trump’s remarkable speech:
[with my interpolated comments]
“My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians . . .
After more than two decades . . . 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.
[Why has it taken so long for someone to see the insanity that started with Oslo–an insane “peace process” that has produced no results and more than a thousand murdered Israelis?]
Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel . . . This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement. Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace.
[What novel ideas! Israel has the same rights as other sovereign nations? There can be no peace without acknowledging Israel’s capital city of Jerusalem? Amazing.]
It was 70 years ago that the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel. Ever since then, Israel has made its capital in the city of Jerusalem — the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times . . .
[The capital the Jewish people established in ancient times. This is one of the most important lines in the entire speech laying to rest once and for all the Palestinian canard that Jews never existed in Jerusalem and that there never was an Israel.]
Jerusalem is not just the heart of three great religions, but it is now also the heart of one of the most successful democracies in the world. Over the past seven decades, the Israeli people have built a country where Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and people of all faiths are free to live and worship according to their conscience and according to their beliefs.
[Fresh thinking once again–and another critically important thought. How many times have we all heard from political leaders that Jerusalem is home to three great religions? But how many times have we heard that it is at “the heart of one of the most successful democracies in the world”?
. . . today, we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more, or less, than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.
[This could not be better stated . . . “the right thing to do” . . .”something that has to be done.”]
That is why, consistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act, I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This will immediately begin the process of hiring architects, engineers, and planners, so that a new embassy, when completed, will be a magnificent tribute to peace.
[Your humble servant hopes that the move can take place with more alacrity than the 4-8 years that was suggested by pundits yesterday. Already this morning, other countries are announcing that they are moving their embassies to Jerusalem.]
. . . We are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved . . .
[If Trump has been consistent about anything, it is that everything–two states, boundaries, borders, and everything else–must be decided by Israelis and Palestinians and not by third parties.]
Above all, our greatest hope is for peace, the universal yearning in every human soul. With today’s action, I reaffirm my administration’s longstanding commitment to a future of peace and security for the region . . .
This sacred city should call forth the best in humanity, lifting our sights to what it is possible; not pulling us back and down to the old fights that have become so totally predictable. Peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to reach.
So today, we call for calm, for moderation, and for the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate. Our children should inherit our love, not our conflicts.”
[Three wonderful closing paragraphs. Period.]
6 Notably Absurd Responses to Trump’s speech
Frankly, it is hard to select only 6 absurd responses from the hundreds that appeared yesterday, but here is your humble servant’s best shot:
1. “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Palestine.”
Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the PLO and self-proclaimed “President of Palestine”, in announcing that all Palestinian schools and businesses will be closed for three days so Palestinians can go out int0 the streets to express their “rage.”
Note how cleverly Abbas steals the phrase “eternal capital” and then applies it to a state that has never existed.
2. “Trump has opened the gates of hell.”
Hamas, in encouraging a violent response to Trump’s speech
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Aren’t we way past the time when someone has the gonads to finally stand up to the endless threats of violence that come from Hamas, Fatah (the PLO), and Islamic Jihad?
3. “Jerusalem must be divided between Israel and the future Palestinian state.”
British PM Theresa May
What unbelievable gall. What gives any political leader on the planet the right to tell sovereign Israel what to do with its capital? Absolutely none.
4. “We will take the Jerusalem issue to the United Nations Security Council.”
Fernando Huanacuni Mamani, Foreign Minister of Bolivia
Great. Go ahead and take us and see how far you get. With Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, not far.
5. “The United States plays a hostile role against the Palestinians – and today it committed a political and moral crime that cannot be reconciled with it at all. We will sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
Yasin Aktay, senior adviser to Turkish PM Erdogan.
When we stop and think about the staggering number of crimes committed by Erdogan and his cronies against the Kurds and in Syria, it boggles the mind. Go ahead and sever relations, but first give us the $20 million dollars back that we paid you to restore them last time in the wake of the Mavi Marmara incident that you [Erdogan] instigated.
6. “President Trump’s decision today to unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel without any progress toward peace is a major setback to a two-state solution. His announcement rejects decades of bipartisan policy and undermines our standing with the Palestinians and our partners in the region . . . by taking this action there’s a real potential to further inflame the Middle East.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Democrat Party leader
Would Sen. Feinstein please show we Israelis when there has ever been any progress toward peace? Or any concession made by the Palestinians toward peace?
“Further inflame the Middle East”? Loose, reckless talk designed to be inflammatory.
9 Notable American Groups That Have Given
Unqualified Support Of Trump’s Declaration
There are no surprises here. All of these organizations can be counted among Israel’s best friends:
Christians United for Israel
Zionist Organization of America
AIPAC
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU)
The National Council of Young Israel
The American Jewish Congress (AJC)
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
TORA, the organization of Traditional Rabbis of America
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV)
3 Notable Anti-Israel American Groups
Against Trump’s Declaration
Again no surprises here. These three are nothing more than shills for the PLO.
Jewish Voice for Peace: “Donald Trump’s move is counter to international law and is a clear attempt by Israel and the U.S. to consolidate Israeli annexation of land.”
J Street: Headline on website today: “CHANGING LONG-STANDING US POLICY ON JERUSALEM IS PROFOUND MISTAKE”
The National Council of Churches: “President Trump has thrown fuel on the fires of conflict in the region. People are likely to die as a direct result of this decision.”
And so ends our blog for today. What an exciting day it has been. We can’t wait to see what tonight and tomorrow will bring.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.