Is there a ready metaphor to suggest how dramatically the world has changed since Donald Trump was elected president?
Like many American Jews, I once fervently hoped that this country would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. I no longer believe that goal should be a priority. It’s not a matter of who the president is; it’s what he seems incapable of doing — thinking about the consequences of his actions.
Two weeks ago, CNN ran an illuminating article by Oren Liebermann on the emerging cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as other states in the Arab world. At least one of the reasons for that improvement in relations is the perceived common threat from Iran. (A quick check of Google will reveal other such articles.)
But is it even possible to make a credible case for the likelihood of further cooperation now that President Trump has announced Jerusalem should be considered the capital of Israel (thereby rubbing salt into many of the wounds that kept Israel and its Arab neighbors at dagger lengths)?
Apparently, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, thinks so. This is what he told Judy Woodruff on the PBS Newshour Wednesday night:
“We are happy to see that the U.S. took the leadership. Other countries are already following the U.S. And we think it will be fruitful for the peace negotiations.”
Mr. Danon didn’t name the other countries, but even allowing for rhetorical excess, what could he be thinking? Isn’t it better to let countries in the region take small, concrete steps toward peace — cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, for example — than announcing, almost by fiat, that the U.S. now considers Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital?
None of this is to deny that bias regularly occurs against Israel at the United Nations. But is this the best way to counter it? To substitute a third-party fiat for incremental, and organic, gains? I would prefer to let Israel and its Arab neighbors deal with the changing geopolitical situation by making adjustments between themselves in a step-by-step process.
Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had this to say:
”President Trump, thank you for today’s historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s historic capital. The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful.”
I’ll be grateful for my heritage, Mr. Netanyahu, but I think I’ll pass on Mr. Trump’s decision to inject his view of Jerusalem.
Oh, one other thing. You may want to tell Mr. Danon to be a bit more judicious with his choice of language. He called Trump’s decision “a courageous move by a courageous president.” A lot of Americans — I daresay a majority judging by recent polls — think he must have been talking about someone else.