Donald Trump appeals for calm as violence grips Middle East over Jerusalem decision

 

IndiaToday.in 

Edited by Deepali Singh

December 9, 2017  

 

Isaac GomesAfter doing the damage and opening up old sores by his unilateral decision to declare Jerusalem as the new Capital of Israel, US President Donald Trump now appeals for calm. Thankfully for once United Nations reacted swiftly and correctly, and turned down Trump's Dadagiri. The United States found itself isolated at a special United Nations Security Council meeting in its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that set off alarms about the risk of escalating conflict in the Middle East, in spite of U.S. envoy Nikki Haley stating that for many years, the United Nations “has outrageously been one of the world’s foremost centers of hostility towards Israel.” The White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah defended Trump's decision on Jerusalem, saying "We think that the decision to recognise reality, and recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is the right decision."  Just before Christmas which brings to all tidings of peace and fellowship, this unilateral and hasty decision of the US President, has come as a bolt from the blue and forebodes an omen for Middle East and world peace at large, especially in light of World Human Rights Day on 10th December 2017.  Many are wondering whether it is the Trump way of boosting up the US and its allies' economy by promoting arms race in the Middle East.  Isaac Gomes, Asso. Editor, Church Citizens' Voice 

 

US President Donald Trump has called for calm and moderation in the Middle East, the White House said today, amid reports of clashes in the region following his decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

"The president has called for calm and moderation and we are hoping that the voices of tolerance prevail over purveyors of hate.

The president does remain committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians," the White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters.

Shah defended Trumps decision on Jerusalem, saying "We think that the decision to recognise reality, and recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is the right decision".

When asked if the President was warned that his decision on Jerusalem would lead to violence, Shah said: "Hes fully aware of potential ramifications but we believe strongly that if you are going to be an honest broker in the Middle East, you need to be honest, and recognising reality is the first part of that."

On Wednesday, Trump in a major policy address had announced to recognise Jerusalem as the Israels capital. The decision was immediately welcomed by Israel, but has resulted in outrage in the Middle East and opposition from many American partners and allies. 

One by one, 14 members of the UN Security Council spoke out against President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at an emergency meeting on Friday, some with regret and some with anger at the 15th member, the United States.

It wasn't the first time that the US stood alone in defending its close ally, Israel, in the UN's most powerful body. Over decades, it has vetoed many council resolutions it viewed as harmful to Israel.

But this was a rare rebuke for an action the United States took that in the eyes of the rest of the council and most of the world clearly violates UN resolutions and decisions that Jerusalem is an issue to be resolved by Israel and the Palestinians in peace negotiations on a two-state solution.

The Trump administration has been working on a new Mideast peace proposal and US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council that the US is more committed to peace "than we've ever been before – and we believe we might be closer to that goal than ever before."


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