The Protected and Rejected

Before the boundaries of Western and Eastern Jerusalem were established, Jerusalem was considered an international city by the United Nations in 1948 with an established Jewish and Arab state. Marc H. Ellis thoroughly illustrates how the Jewish and Arab states of both Israel and Palestine have influenced each other through conquests and cultural changes in Out of the Ashes. He describes how both “complemented the interpenetrating of religious sensibilities” (73) as time passes and how both learn to adapt and evolve with modern changes. Some of the more recent changes that they had to witness was the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, relocating it from its previous location Tel-Aviv. This caused protests amongst Arabs and jubilation amongst Jews. Jews were satisfied with the re-establishment because it indicated in a way that the holy city belonged to them as a correlation with their international ties with America. Palestinians see the embassy, scheduled to open on Israel’s independence day, as a sign of hostility, making the assumption that the dispute over the land’s ownership was settled despite any objections they may possess. This also being the day that Arabs were forced off their land in 1967, it further portrays a message of history repeating itself by “denying Palestinian claims to the city” (Michele Chabin).

 Emma Green accurately expresses in her article how “Jewish and Palestinian diasporas are energetic, traveling to and from Israel/Palestine; [and that] American and Arab politics are constantly in the air; trade and cultural influences outside of Israel/Palestine continue to affect the region” . In other words, disputes do not solely affect Israel and/or Palestine because every decision whether political, economical, cultural, etc., involves multiple nations that add their input to the mix of events and ultimately change the outcome. By claiming that they are supported by a developed and industrialized country like the U.S., Jews have a sense of protection from their enemies. At the same time, Palestinians are portrayed as being defenseless and vulnerable to attacks because America has chosen one side over the other in the ultimate land conquest. This is considered an example of the “divide between one group’s celebration and another group’s mourning” (Green) as one is supported and the other rejected/forgotten.

 My point of view on this whole debacle can be best described by the statement made by Emma Green in that “many Israelis don’t really care that America has moved its embassy to Jerusalem. The city already functions as Israel’s capital, home to its parliament, Supreme Court, executive buildings, prime minister’s residence, and more. In practical terms, Trump’s announcement doesn’t change much about U.S. diplomatic functioning in Jerusalem”. The move is more of a formal acknowledgement of a union of nations when in the past it was more of a silent acknowledgement. To others, the move is “a symbol, signaling U.S. priorities both at home and abroad” (Green), indicating that their priorities are with Jews over Arabs. This is cause for concern since it further deteriorates the middle eastern conflict causing instability for both regions since Arab allies will foreseeably abandon their alliance to America after the embassy is finalized and functional. This will most likely result in additional bloodshed and violence for all involved all due to the relocation of government property.

Image Link: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/09/15/palestinians-israelis-just-a-week-away-from-un-confrontation/ by Tony Aiello