Trump is expected to address Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel

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Why is the Israeli Palestinian conflict given so much media prominence? The obsession we have over it astounds me. It is a peripheral regional squabble with no global significance whatsoever. There are bigger issues in the world, like what's happening in Myanmar with regards to the Rohingya, or the conflict in Ukraine, or even the civil war in Syria. Israel Palestine is so overblown.

None of those other issues have gone on for nearly as long as the Israeli occupation of Palestine and subjugation of the Palestinians. Even the U.S. (via Kushner speaking at Saban Forum 2017) recognise that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the key to peace in the Middle East, making it the most important conflict in the most volatile and prominent region in world politics.

Reply 21

username2766878

Original post by Palmyra

No it isn't key to peace in the Middle East. The resolution of that conflict won't bring peace to Syria, it won't ameliorate tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it won't encourage internal reform away from autocracy. This issue gets far too much attention that it deserves and it does so because of religion, in the eyes of some the oppressors are Jewish and the victims are Muslim and that dynamic is incomprehensible.

Reply 22

yemenia16

http://chn.ge/2AvQAGy

Reply 23

username2950448

Original post by Sycatonne23

No it isn't key to peace in the Middle East.

The Israelis, the Americans, the Arabs, the Turks, the Iranians (etc) all disagree with you.

Original post by Chaz254

Almost all of the US congress suck up to Israel.

The contention is that this is done to the extent that to do so would be in the US's interests. I think the not insignificant number of "Israel-firsters" and certain actions show that this is far from the norm.

Reply 24

Joep95

A state can choose its capital and we should respect that

Reply 25

Captain Haddock

Original post by anarchism101

The main hardline pro-Israel constituency in the US is actually the fundamentalist Christian right, who support Israel because of weird esoteric Biblical reasons.

Please, go on...

Reply 26

username2766878

Original post by Chaz254

You obviously have no idea of history or what is even happening. I agree that the other issues you mentioned are worthy of coverage, but let me tell you what is happening in Israel/Palestine.

Israel are basically undertaking ethnic cleansing against Palestinians from their homes and have done for many years, because they want an ethnostate. This has been going on for years, since Israelis waltzed into Palestine and drove them out of their homes and created illegal settlements. This is still happening today.

What do you mean an "ethno-state"? As far as I am aware, Israeli Jews do not come from one underlying ethnicity. Yes, Israelis are building illegal settlements on Palestinian land. It sucks, but it is an issue of its own merit, it doesn't deserve to be treated as the defining issue in the region and it isn't. It is an internal regional squabble inflamed by religious passion.

Reply 27

Trinculo

Original post by Ninja Squirrel

I think this is incredibly reckless of him to make this call, there is deep religious and political history around Jerusalem and this could have massive ramifications. I think Trump is just too stupid and arrogant to understand to importance of this city.

Although what you are saying is that a democratic nation state has no right to choose its own capital city.

Jerusalem is within the territory of Israel. They can allocate it their capital if they like. If a bunch of trouble-making Arabs don't like it - to hell with them. It's the same people who tried to destroy Israel. Why should Israel care what they think?

UN - who cares? Meaningless organisation that has achieved a fat load of nothing and is so impotent as to be pointless.

EU - Will do anything to pander to the idiot wet-blanket liberal brigade long enough to hope they forget they're supposed to be opposed to globalism.

Reply 28

username3044948

Is trump dumb ? Like this has angered so many more Muslims which is definitely gonna lead to an increase in radicalisation and more terror attacks . As if we weren’t already gonna die anyway it’s just made things 10x worse

Reply 29

username2766878

Original post by Palmyra

The Israelis, the Americans, the Arabs, the Turks, the Iranians (etc) all disagree with you.

They may, but practically speaking I don't see how resolving Israel-Palestine will bring peace to the region. This is not to say that it shouldn't be resolved.

However, we have to keep our energies in focus. Resolving the conflict won't resolve the Cold War between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it won't put an end to the civil war in Syria, it won't ease the many other sectarian fault-lines in the Middle East which could trigger war. The last serious war fought by Arab states over the issue of Palestine occurred more than 40 years ago and that too for strategic rather than moral reasons at a time of relative military parity with Israel. Today Israeli military supremacy in the region isn't even a question and the only power which could challenge that (Turkey) is a NATO member and at most will threaten diplomatic repercussions. Israel Palestine gets overblown in my opinion for a number of reasons.

1) There's a lot of historical precedent to the issue, it is the longest running unresolved conflict in modern history so it's interesting.
2) Religious dimension, significance of land of Israel and specifically Jerusalem to monotheistic world religions.
3) The "oppressors" are Jewish, the "victims" predominantly Muslims, many in the Islamic world with deep anti-Semitism find such a power dynamic completely intolerable and so have even more reason to inflame the issue.
4) Divide between hawkish loony neocon supporters of Israel and nutter leftist "anti-imperialist" type detractors ends up polarising the debate and forcing people to pick sides.

Reply 30

username2766878

Original post by Chaz254

Ethno-state = they want their country to be all or at least majority Jews. They are attenpting to kick the Muslims out from their so-called home or Holy Land. This is the far right nationalism that you would get called a Nazi for in this country. Amazing how they get a free pass on such ideas.

I mean that depends on if you see Jewish people as a race or not, I for one think it's a bit more complicated than that.

Interestingly enough, there are such a thing as Arab Israelis, who make up a fifth of Israel's population and aren't being kicked or forced out.

Reply 31

MrSuavetopia

Original post by lightbulb22

To answer your question, yes. There’s no benefit to anyone in this other than to himself/his base.

Reply 32

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by joecphillips

A state can choose its capital and we should respect that

Lol, is there anything Trump does that you don't agree with?

Reply 33

Golden State

Just shows that President Trump is one of the most Pro-Israeli US presidents, and that he's fulfilling his campaign promises.

Reply 34

AperfectBalance

Awful idea, Neither side is right or wrong and this was a terrible mistake

Reply 35

Napp

This man is the epitome of a moron. Alas this decision will actually have horrific consequences in the region, potentially catastrophic.

Reply 36

Captain Haddock

President Trump did not completely grasp the ramifications of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, several advisers told The Washington Post.

Trump wanted to seem "pro-Israel" and focused on "making a deal," two advisers told the Post."

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/363703-trump-didnt-seem-to-have-complete-understanding-of-jerusalem-decision

This guy is such a moron.

Reply 37

Joep95

Original post by Snufkin

Lol, is there anything Trump does that you don't agree with?

Who chooses a states capital? The state itself or someone else?

Reply 38

adamantacademic

Israel is a rogue state, which at one point was entirely dependant on the US, Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and the US is a counterfeit democracy.

Reply 39

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by joecphillips

Who chooses a states capital? The state itself or someone else?

Don't be puerile. You must realise that this is a much more nuanced situation, Jerusalem is a divided city - the Eastern half is claimed by the Palestinians as their capital, and a viable Palestinian state is simply not achievable without it. In recognising Israel's claim over the entirety of Jerusalem, Trump has in effect ended any chance of a two state solution. The FT called it "diplomatic vandalism" and that's exactly right, literally nobody benefits from this; not Israel, not the Middle East, not America, and certainly not Trump.