Tell President Trump that declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel is bad for America

(WASHINGTON DC 12/04/2017) -- American Muslims for Palestine is gravely concerned by recent reports that President Donald Trump may declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel as early as Tuesday, which would contravene decades of bipartisan U.S. foreign policy that considers Jerusalem a final status negotiation issue. Though it is expected that the president may once again sign the waiver exempting him from moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, AMP believes that declaring Israel’s capital threatens not only Palestinians who are being ethnically cleansed, but also U.S. interests, its standing, and any possibility of being an “honest broker” in the Middle East. 

Officially changing Jerusalem’s status is reckless and dangerous. It would shift the decades-old U.S. position that Jerusalem is disputed ground and its status should be resolved through negotiations. Former Secretary of State John Kerry stated in his 2016 remarks to the UN Security Council: “...remember that every U.S. administration since 1967, along with the entire international community, has recognized East Jerusalem as among the territories that Israel occupied in the Six-Day War.”

Trump’s possible move comes amid heightened tensions stemming from the investigation of special prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III. Last week, media reports revealed that the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner directed former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn – as part of Trump’s transition team – to “get every foreign minister or ambassador from a country on the U.N. Security Council to delay or vote against the resolution (Res. 2334),” which condemned Israeli settlements and reasserted their illegality. Kushner’s directive most likely came in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Bloomberg News. The actions were made in attempt to thwart President Barack Obama’s decision to allow the resolution to pass by abstaining from the vote. 

AMP also condemns comments made by Vice President Mike Pence indicating that moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was imminent. Pence’s reckless comments, which were made at an event celebrating the 1947 passage of UN Resolution 181 that partitioned Palestine and gave the majority of the land to a tiny minority of Jews, could inflame the Muslim world, prejudice the outcome of the peace process, and surely negate the claim that the U.S is an honest broker in the Middle East. They also make a mockery of Trump’s February 2016 claim that he’s "a neutral guy" when it comes to negotiating the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

“This recklessness will not bring about the ‘ultimate deal,’ rather it will unleash chaos in the Muslim world and it will endanger U.S.’s global standing and our national security,” said AMP National Policy Director Osama Abuirshaid. “Furthermore, if Trump officially declares Jerusalem the capital of Israel, he will be contravening decades of U.S. policy that holds East Jerusalem as disputed territory. He will be telling Palestinians their self-determination is no longer a priority in peace negotiations.”

TAKE ACTION:

AMP is calling on supporters to send a letter to the White House demanding Trump and his administration stand alongside the international community in recognizing the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem; and, barring this, they at least should adhere to decades of U.S. foreign policy that has maintained the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv like the rest of the international community and that believes the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiation. AMP, however, asserts its position that Jerusalem is occupied territory and whose native inhabitants are being ethnically cleansed.

Tell President Trump that declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel is bad for America

SAVE THE DATE:

News reports have indicated that President Trump may make his 'Jerusalem as capital of Israel' declaration as early as tomorrow. Having recently marked the hundred year anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, we know all-too-well the devastating impact of such biased expressions. 

If Trump proceeds with his announcement, AMP plans to organize a major demonstration in front of the White House on December 8, immediately following Friday prayers. We also call on you to organize a demonstration in your own cities to protest this dangerous move that threatens the stability of the region. 

We'll be sure to send you updates and an announcement ASAP, but for now, please send your letter and share with a friend!