With the news about Australia recognizing West Jerusalem as Israels capital has anyone noticed the irony that it came within days of the Fast of Tevet?
According to II Kings (25:1-4) on the 10th day of the tenth month (Tevet) in the ninth year of Zedekiahs reign Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king began the siege of Jerusalem.
The Tenth of Tevet is first referred to as a fast day in the Book of Zechariah (8:19) where it is called the fast of the tenth month." Jews have mourned this event for over 2400 years.
Jerusalem was besieged then later captured and destroyed. Its been besieged and destroyed many times since. Is the growing diplomatic recognition today of Jerusalem as Israels capital the historic justice the Jewish people have been waiting for?
Jerusalem might be special to many throughout the world but its only been the political capital of one nation the Jewish people since King David made it the capital city of his kingdom over 3000 years ago.
During the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 Israels nascent army maintained control over the western side of the city but the eastern part fell to the Jordanians. Because Nasser of Egypt King Hussein of Jordan and Salah Jadid of Syria decided to try and eliminate Israel in 1967 forcing Israel into the Six-Day-War with Israels victory the eastern side of the city returned to Jewish control as well. In 1980 Israel officially annexed the eastern side of the city in the The Jerusalem Law.
Due to much diplomatic effort by the Israeli government Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced recently Australia recognizes West Jerusalem the seat of the Knesset and many government institutions as the capital of Israel."
But and this is the big but Morrison stressed the embassy would not move to West Jerusalem until a peace agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In the mean time he said that his government would establish an office that would deal with security and trade. Morrison added that a two-state solution is the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute with aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem."
Netanyahu has been glaringly silent the Prime Ministers Office issued no statement.
But Netanyahu is also Minister of Foreign Affairs and through his proxy in a tepid response Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon posted on Twitter: Israel views the decision of the Australian government to open the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Jerusalem as a step in the right direction."
Yuval Rotem director general of the Foreign Ministry and a former Israeli ambassador to Canberra issued a warmer response tweeting I welcome Australias announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital reflecting the Jewish peoples historical bond to Jerusalem and a practical approach to the future of the peace process in our region."
After Morrisons announcement the gulf Arab Kingdom of Bahrain expressed support for Australias decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israels capital. Interestingly last month a senior Israeli official said that Israel is in close talks to establish diplomatic relations with the Gulf state as part of the growing rapprochement with moderate Arab states including Oman.
This is all part of the larger strategic Sunni-American-Israeli coalition developing against Shiite Iran. Bahrain I might add is a Shiite-majority citizenry ruled by a small Sunni royal family and business class. Half of its population is foreigners. Bahraini leaders fear Irans threatening presence.
Soon after Morrison made his announcement the Arab Leagues Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories Saeed Abu Ali condemned Australias decision as a break with the international communitys position and disregard of international law. In a statement he said it was blatantly biased toward the positions and policies of the Israeli occupation."
In response Bahrains Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa criticized the Arab Leagues irresponsible statements" tweeting Australias position does not hamper the legitimate demands of the Palestinians and first and foremost East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. It doesnt contradict the Arab Peace Initiative."
Lets be clear Arab Peace Initiative" Palestinian capital" Two-State Solution" means taking the eastern part of Jerusalem i.e. the Old City the Kotel/Western Wall and Temple Mount away from Jewish control away from the Jewish people putting Jerusalem under siege again.
But not all Israeli politicians were so subdued in their response to Australias announcement.
Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi tweeted Australia is a great friend of Israel and we greatly appreciate our friendship and warm relations. But there is no such thing as West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem. There is only Jerusalem the eternal and undivided capital of the State of Israel."
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said I am surprised by Australias recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and we will continue to insist on this all of Jerusalem is our capital forever not just part of it."
Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis thanked Canberra but he too added that all of Jerusalem has been our capital for the past 3000 years."
The PLOs predictable response was: The Australian government has decided to join US president Donald Trump and other governments against the implementation of the two-state solution. Jerusalems status remains to be discussed in order to negotiate an agreement. East Jerusalem is an inseparable part of the occupied Palestinian territory according to international law."
Notice the PLO statement refers to Jerusalems status" not just the eastern part of the city.
Spokesman for the Palestinian Authority cabinet Yusuf al-Mahmoud said that the Australian governments decision to recognize western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a wrong step and showed an incorrect understanding of the political reality and decisions of the international institutions on Jerusalem since 1947." al-Mahmoud called on other countries not to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem and to recognize the Arab city of Al-Quds as the natural capital of the State of Palestine" in accordance with UN resolutions that established the West Bank and East Jerusalem are part of the Palestinian land occupied by Israel in 1967." He stressed that any state that transfers its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem or recognizes western Jerusalem or the two parts of the city as the capital of the occupying state violates international law and takes a step which is an attack against the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation."
Notice the PA spokesman accuses countries that recognize Israels right to western Jerusalem" as an attack against the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation."
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat added From the beginning weve perceived the Australian governments decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital as one wherein petty domestic politics steer irresponsible policies that contradict world peace and security. The policies of this Australian administration have done nothing to advance the two-state solution." Erekat continued All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations while East Jerusalem under international law is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory."
And Erekat repeats the same line All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations." Simply put East Jerusalem is Palestinian and non-negotiable West Jerusalem is on the chopping block according to them.
Well let me tell you something the nearly 4000 year old Jewish people dont need anybodys recognition of Jerusalem as our capital city. God recognizes it as such. For over 3000 years since King David made Jerusalem his capital its been the capital of the Jewish people whether weve had an independent Jewish political entity kingdom commonwealth state or not. And the Western Wall its been holy to Jews since the destruction of the second temple nearly two thousand years ago.
Now that Jerusalem has been re-unified Jews arent ready to give it up.
Jerusalem has never been the capital city of any other people or sovereign entity and Israeli Jews overwhelmingly agree that it should be kept that way.
Ive been warning about this process thats unfolding before our eyes for a while already.
Remember candidate Donald Trump said A lot will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal whether or not Israels willing to sacrifice certain things."
And in Dec. 2017 when Trump recognized" Jerusalem as Israels capital he didnt say undivided capital." Trump also said then Jerusalem is today and must remain a place where Jews pray at the Western Wall where Christians walk the Stations of the Cross and where Muslims worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Hence preserving the status quo of the Old City and Temple Mount. A status quo that denigrates Jewish Rights.
Is recognizing Israeli control over western Jerusalem only and intending to re-divide the city Trumps real plan?
Many Israeli politicians were enamored by Trumps unclear recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the time. But I warned then that the promised building of a new American embassy compound by itself in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem on the western side of the city does not preclude the division of Jerusalem. Giving eastern Jerusalem liberated from Jordan in 1967 to the Palestinians for the capital of their state is still possible.
Dont forget Trump has still insisted no Jerusalem Israel" on US Passports of American citizens born there.
One think-tank analyst John Sitilides has suggested that Trump may be withholding putting Jerusalem Israel" on passports due to his much-anticipated Mideast peace plan rumored to be out in February 2019. President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but is now emphasizing his support for a two-state solution and is withholding on the passport issue to maximize US leverage as his diplomatic negotiating team finalizes its proposals. He has publicly stated that Israel must be more flexible now that Jerusalem has been recognized."
Since Americas embassy move the Israeli government has been discussing with some ten other countries moving their embassies to Jerusalem including those of Brazil the Czech Republic Romania and Honduras.
We now see the spoiled fruit of those efforts Australias Morrison more clearly than Trump himself enunciated support for Israeli control over West Jerusalem only. Are these the hidden thoughts of the many countries thinking of moving their embassies to Jerusalem?
Its the Tenth of Tevet 2018 and Jerusalem is under siege again!
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko. (c) 2018/5779 Pasko