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On Jerusalem, Trump Reveals Hard Truths about Mideast Peace

(National Post-Canada) Editorial - President Donald Trump's declaration this week that the U.S. will officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital is good news, partially because it recognizes the long-evident facts on the ground: Jerusalem, the ancient capital of the people of Israel for thousands of years, has been the declared capital of the modern State of Israel for more than half a century. The announcement will also be helpful in sending a clear signal to Palestinian leadership that the U.S. will not keep pretending a breakthrough peace deal is just around the corner. Palestinian leaders are too preoccupied with their own internecine battles to focus on the peace process they claim Trump has scuttled. Progress will only be possible when Palestinian leaders become a serious, motivated partner for peace. There is no escaping the fundamental truth of the so-called "peace process": Israel has been declaring its readiness to make a deal for decades. It has done so already with Egypt and Jordan, two formerly mortal enemies, and has even in recent years begun working, unofficially but effectively, with Saudi Arabia. It is no betrayal of the Palestinians to speak the truth about Jerusalem. On the contrary, it is a necessary step toward actual peace. When the uproar finally dies down, the Palestinians will find themselves right where they've been for decades: alone and abandoned, and living next door to a massively powerful country that holds every advantage, but one nevertheless willing to negotiate peace. Things will only get worse for the Palestinians the longer they wait to take Israel up on that offer.
2017-12-15 00:00:00
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