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Trump's Declaration on Jerusalem Violates No International Norms

(Ha'aretz) Oded Eran and Robbie Sabel - The Trump declaration on Jerusalem contains no violation of (non-binding) UN resolutions and no deviation from traditional U.S. policies. Trump stated, "We [the U.S.] are not taking a position of any final status issue, including the specific boundaries of Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders." He carefully refrained from making any declaration as to the status of east Jerusalem or of the Muslim holy places. The declaration simply recognized the reality that Jerusalem, without defining its territorial extent, is Israel's capital. Heads of states, including those of Arab states and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been received by their Israeli counterparts in Jerusalem. Ambassadors from Jordan and Egypt have presented their credentials to Israel's president in Jerusalem. In the last 70 years, the only UN resolutions passed concerning Jerusalem referred to the status of "east" Jerusalem. No UN resolution has questioned Israeli sovereignty over west Jerusalem, or of Jerusalem as being Israel's capital. Hence, President Trump's declaration was not violating any international rule or norm, and was reflecting a legal and physical reality. Dr. Oded Eran was Israel's ambassador to Jordan (1997-2000), ambassador to the EU (2002-2007), and head of Israel's negotiations team with the Palestinians (1999-2000). Prof. Robbie Sabel was Legal Advisor to Israel's Foreign Ministry (1985-1993) and an Israeli representative to peace talks with Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians.
2017-12-12 00:00:00
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