Trump has consistently privileged the Israeli narrative and claims over those of the Palestinians. In his
Jerusalem decision he also helped the destructive, unnecessary transformation of the conflict from a political to a
religious struggle.
Mae Elise Cannon, Yahya Hendi, and Debra Shushan
President Trump’s decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and commence moving the US embassy was harmful
enough.
And still, he has managed – repeatedly – to make it worse. In the latest development, the State Department
announced last week that a provisional U.S. embassy in Jerusalem will open on May 14, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment.
The Trump Administration’s original decision was fatally flawed.
In the absence of a final settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which Palestinian claims to Jerusalem
are addressed, the decision was blatantly one-sided. American credibility as an honest broker plummeted, Trump’s
avowed goal of reaching the "ultimate deal" was set back, and the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and His Holiness Pope Francis condemned the new policy.