America’s decision to recognise Jerusalem has changed the political scene between Israel and the Palestinians. This comes after Russia recognised West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in April 2017. However, a total of 128 countries did not comply with America’s Jerusalem wish, and within moments of voting, it was face down into a pillow screaming. It was not fantasy, but complete reality, at the United Nations. What America asserted, louder and louder, at both the stages like General Assembly and Security Council, faced deep denial from the other member countries.
Israel has certainly extended its control of Jerusalem over the past 17 years. The Palestinians have to cover a long circuitous road to reach Ramallah and enter into Jerusalem – only through permits. Different buses have to be taken for East Jerusalem, though a light rail train also stands completed. Arabs require residency permits in the city. Only 2% Palestinians vote in the Jerusalem Municipal elections. The city stands separated from West Bank because of a security fence and concrete wall.
The Israeli president Ehud Barak, way back in the year of 2000, insisted on East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. Later, in 2008, President Mahmud Abbas met Israeli president Ehud Olmert as many as 36 times to talk about peace.
The US of A might consider it unnecessary to overturn its decision of shifting its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a sacred place for three different religions. Yasser Yakis, Turkey’s ex-Foreign Minister, wrote in a piece on Arab News that “the International community does not claim that the US has violated UN rules with its Jerusalem decision, but it is entitled to expect the US to grasp the ethical consequences of the UN votes.”
This is important for us, because our beloved country has also voted in favour of the Palestinians. This is why it may not find a spot on the US’ Friendship List. The resolution was voted against, 14 to 1 in the Security Council and 128 to 9 in the General Assembly. Every opposing country had to bear with Trump’s resentment. These countries appear to have settled with pulling their votes straight up, pointing to the global circumstances, and confining their valued support in the expandable friendship strap.
The American president Donald Trump seems to have grown tired of the anti-resolution stand. He may realise that his economically advanced, militarily powerful country no longer possesses its well-established traditional roaring capacity, but its almighty dollars certainly possess a power which is clear before the UN, which had been created to bring peace and justice throughout the world.