Big Day in Jerusalem

            Monday was the 70^th anniversary of the day that the State of Israel was created in 1948. In an effort to commemorate this important event, the United States Embassy officially opened in Jerusalem on Monday. 

            The United States first promised in 1995 that the embassy would be moved to Jerusalem, but president after president signed waivers to avoid doing so. They cited security concerns over the probability that Palestinians would oppose the event with violence. President Donald Trump had the courage to keep the promise, and the Palestinians responded with violence.

            Thousands of Palestinians stormed the Gaza border fence at the time that the U.S. Embassy opened in Jerusalem. The Israeli military went into defense mode. At least 55 protesters were killed and thousands more were injured as they lobbed Molotov cocktails at the fence.

            The Trump administration published a statement that they are “aware of the reports of continued violence in Gaza today. The responsibility for these tragic deaths rests squarely with Hamas” because Hamas has “intentionally and cynically provoked this type of response.” The Trump administration expressed its support for the show of force by Israel because “As the Secretary of State [Mike Pompeo] said, Israel has the right to defend itself.”

            Israel joined the United States in defending the Israeli right to defend themselves. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following statement at the opening of the United States Embassy. 

We are in Jerusalem, and we are here to stay! We gather here today to celebrate another historic day in the life of this city, which I know will take its place alongside other momentous decisions in the history of our people.

Thank you, President Trump, and thank you all, for making the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever.

            This writer agrees with President Trump in that Israel – or any other nation – has the right to choose which city will be their capital city. The United States, any other nation, or the United Nations has the right to tell Israel that they cannot make Jerusalem their capital. Since Israel has long proclaimed that Jerusalem is their capital, it is only right that the United States move their embassy to Jerusalem – as are several other nations.

            The truth is shown in the following statement by the Patriot Post, “If the Palestinians wanted peace, there would be peace. If Israel wanted war, Palestinians would not exist. Think about it!” 

            The Palestinians have had many opportunities to make peace with Israel, but they have chosen unrest and violence as their response. This shows that they do not really want peace; they want to get rid of the Jews. Israel, on the other hand, has shown great resolve. They have the power to completely wipe out the Palestinians, but they have not. Instead, they continue to defend themselves from the violence day after day, month after month, year after year.

            It does not really matter if the United States moved their embassy to Jerusalem or not. The Palestinians would find some excuse to riot and cause violence. So the embassy might as well be in Jerusalem because the violence will continue in the future just as it has in the past.