Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during remarks he made at the 2nd Conference for Digital Diplomacy at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, once again praised the decision by United States President Donald Trump, saying his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state inscribed the American President in the history of Israel’s capital for eternity. Netanyahu said, “We were all moved to hear President Trump’s historic statement, the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and this statement is – of course – based on ancient right. The Jewish People determined Jerusalem to be its capital 3,000 years ago. Here our forefathers walked. Here our kings ruled. Here our prophets preached. Here are our roots. This is, in effect, our identity card. President Trump has inscribed himself in the annals of our capital for all time. His name will now be linked to the names of others in the context of the glorious history of Jerusalem and our people. I would like to thank him and the American Congress which, 22 years ago, provided a basis for the recognition until President Trump came and implemented this law,” the Israeli leader asserted.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also took the opportunity to reveal that Israel has had contact with several countries that have indicated their interest in following Washington’s footsteps, by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as well as moving their respective embassies to Jerusalem.
In response to international criticism levelled at President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson defended his President’s decision, stressing that ‘Trump simply carried out the will of the American people.’ Nevertheless, the American top diplomat stressed that while “every country has a right to decide” regarding its embassy in Israel, the final status of Jerusalem was something that must ultimately be resolved in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas travelled to Jordan’s capital Amman for an emergency meeting with King Abdullah, during which both leaders condemned Washington’s declaration and emphasized that it has effectively terminated the United States’ political role in the Middle East. Abbas said, “We completely agree that there is a need for the two-state solution, the Palestinian state with the 67 borders, and capital in East Jerusalem and the Israeli state. The decision of President Trump is completely unacceptable. We think that the U.S. by taking this stance, renounced its political role in the Middle East. Because it does not have a role,” he said. President Abbas further asserted, that while the decision by President Trump dealt a heavy blow to the Palestinian aspiration for statehood, strong support by the international community has indicated a positive trend that rejects Jerusalem as Israel capital and elevates efforts to bolster the Palestinian cause.