(CAMERA) Suri Bandler - President Trump's announcement that America officially acknowledges Jerusalem as Israel's capital is entirely a symbolic gesture. The Israeli people already view Jerusalem as their capital in theory and in practice and all government business is conducted in the city. In response to Trump's declaration, the Palestinian "national and Islamic forces" announced "days of rage," which included rioters throwing rocks and firebombs. Over 30 rockets were fired indiscriminately into Israeli communities from Gaza, and Hamas promised an intifada. The last intifada, the Second Intifada that began in 2001, saw the killing of over 1,000 Israelis. Why is the immediate international reaction to Trump's declaration a call to repeal his declaration, in light of the "eventual" violence and instability that this purely symbolic move will cause? Why is there not an immediate condemnation of the incitement and calls to violence witnessed across the Arab world? Why is Arab violence taken as a given and why does the international community impose few expectations regarding violent uprisings that target Israeli civilians. If we establish a status quo where violence against civilians is overlooked or justified, then there will never be peace.
2018-01-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive