Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Friday to address the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem and plans to move its embassy, with 14 of the 15 member states denouncing President Donald Trump’s recognition of Israel’s capital.
Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, addressed the United States’ actions in support of its ally, and as with many Security Council addresses, gave a speech in defense of Israel.
Haley addressed the history of Israel bias at the U.N, giving a historic explanation to Israel’s right over Jerusalem, its eternal capital. In her address, she also reiterated U.S. support of the Jewish state and the Trump administration’s commitment to Israel’s security and sovereignty.
“The Jewish people are a patient people. Throughout three thousand years of civilization, foreign conquest, exile, and return, Jerusalem has remained their spiritual home. For nearly 70 years, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel, despite many attempts by others to deny that reality. The American people are less patient. In 1948, the United States was the first nation to recognize the independent state of Israel. In 1995, the U.S. Congress declared that Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel, and that the U.S. Embassy should be located in Jerusalem,” referring to the Jerusalem Embassy Act.
“Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all agreed with that position, but they did not act,” Haley added. “They delayed, in the hopes that a peace process would produce results – results that never came. For 22 years, the American people have overwhelmingly supported that position, and they have waited . . . and waited. This week, President Trump finally made the decision to no longer deny the will of the American people.”
On Israel’s sovereignty amidst global condemnation, Haley stated that “Israel, like all nations, has the right to determine its capital city. Jerusalem is the home of Israel’s parliament, president, prime minister, Supreme Court, and many of its ministries. It is simple common sense that foreign embassies be located there. In virtually every country in the world, U.S. embassies are located in the host country’s capital city. Israel should be no different.”
On her country’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital under the Trump administration, Haley highlighted its reasons. “The United States took this step in full knowledge that it will raise questions and concerns. Our actions are intended to help advance the cause of peace. We must recognize that peace is advanced, not set back, when all parties are honest with each other. Our actions reflected an honest assessment of reality.”
On global disapproval and rejection on Jerusalem’s status, particularly at the U.N, she stated “ I understand the concern members have in calling this session. Change is hard. But we should never doubt what the truth can do. We should never doubt that when we face the truth, believe in the human spirit, and encourage each other, that peace can happen.”
Reassuring the United States’ commitment to the peace process, Haley said “to those who have good faith concerns about the future of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, let me again assure you that the President and this Administration remain committed to the peace process. To those who do not act in good faith – to any person, leader, country, or terrorist group that uses this week’s decision as a pretext for violence – you are only showing yourselves to be unfit partners of peace.”
Haley then, as with majority of her addresses to the Security Council, spoke of the United Nations’ institutionalized anti-Israel bias and organized efforts against the State of Israel, as well as her country’s commitment to supporting its ally amidst constant attacks.
“Finally, I will not let this moment pass without a comment about the United Nations itself. Over many years, the United Nations has outrageously been of the world’s foremost centers of hostility towards Israel. The U.N. has done much more to damage the prospects for Middle East peace than to advance them. We will not be a party to that. The United States no longer stands by when Israel is unfairly attacked in the United Nations. And the United States will not be lectured to by countries that lack any credibility when it comes to treating both Israelis and Palestinians fairly.”
The U.S., the Philippines, and Czech Republic have all confirmed their recognition of Jerusalem, with Czech’s president defending its decision to recognize West Jerusalem while condemning the European Union’s rejection stating. “The European Union, cowards, are doing all they can so a pro-Palestinian terrorist movement can have supremacy over a pro-Israeli movement.” Czech announced it recognized West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital directly following President Trump’s announcement last Wednesday.
Shortly after President Trump’s historic announcement last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that Israel is “already holding talks with other countries, who will make a similar recognition. I have no doubt that as soon as the US Embassy moves to Jerusalem, and even before then, many other embassies will also move to Jerusalem. It’s time.”
Photo credit: IIP Photo Archive (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved
Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
In 1995 both the House and Senate (93 yea votes) overwhelmingly approved the bill to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. IO true Billy Clinton fashion he ignored the bill and it automatically became law without his signature. Clinton, W. Bush and Obama proceeded to kick the can down the road by deferring the enactment of the law every six months. President Trump merely allowed a law passed in 1995 to be enacted. Bye the way liberals a majority of Democrats in 1995 voted FOR moving the embassy.