Jewish movement condemns Trump’s Jerusalem decision

CAIRO – 7 December 2017: Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) movement condemned in a statement Wednesday Trump’s announcement that he will begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem as part of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The Jewish movement, one of the 10 most anti-Israeli organizations in the United States, stated that Trump’s move is counter to international law and is a clear attempt by Israel and the U.S. to consolidate Israeli annexation of land. This move is reckless, endangering the lives of Palestinians and Israelis on the ground.

According to the Jewish report, since Israel unilaterally annexed the eastern half of Jerusalem in 1967; the international community has considered it to be occupied territory. By recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Trump is endorsing Israeli policies of dispossession and forcible transfer, further harming the rights and lives of Palestinians and crushing any hope for a peace based on equality and freedom for everyone in the region.

The statement affirmed that Jerusalem is home to people of multiple faiths and religions, almost 40 percent of whom are Palestinians. This move irrevocably demonstrates that the U.S. and Israel are colluding to violate the rights of Palestinians and sabotage any real possibility for an equitable agreement.

United States President Donald Trump has officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel Wednesday during a televised speech from the White House, Washington D.C.

"It is the headquarters of many government ministries. For many years, visiting American diplomats met their Israeli counterparts in Jerusalem… It is now the heart of one of the most successful democracies in the world," Trump stated during his speech Wednesday.