President Donald Trump has scuppered a possible deal with Palestine. He has made nonsense of diplomacy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The decision has nothing commendable. It does not stipulate that Israel has to stop its programme of building settlements in occupied land. Tel Aviv has not been called upon to recognize the Palestinian state. Israel is not obligated by Trump’s decision to protect the rights of the roughly 1,00,000 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem who are cut off from the city’s services. Trump’s team on Israel- Jason Greenblatt, David Friedman and his son-in-law Jared Kushner – is simply lacking in experience. Kushner’s family trusts have made financial contributions to organizations building illegal West Bank settlements. An Israel supporter, tycoon Sheldon Adalson is one of Trump’s major campaign donors. U.S Jews who form a vocal lobby have been critical of Donald Trump’s failure to condemn neo-Nazis in the United States. Trump may now be trying to win over Israel to garner the support of US Jews. The Christian right wing in the US is also in favour of Jerusalem being freed of Muslim control in any part. The decision of Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital may be a part of his crusade against Muslims.
A Palestinian state with East Jerusalem would have made the decision sensible. The status quo concerning Israel and Palestine is hardly satisfactory. Palestinians suffer under occupation. Israel faces global isolation as its occupation is not generally justified. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital causes instability in West Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hardly likely to view this development with equanimity.
