The United States opened an embassy to Jerusalem today at the order of President Trump, who finally fulfilled a promise former presidents made for decades.
“We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem,” Trump said. “Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise they failed to deliver. Today I am delivering.”
President Bill Clinton said in 1992 that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, despite the U.S. embassy being in Tel Aviv. “Jerusalem is still the capital of Israel and must remain an undivided city accessible to all,” he said.
George W. Bush promised 18 years ago, “As soon as I take office I will begin the process of moving the U.S. ambassador to the city Israel has chosen as its capital.”
“I continue to say that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel, and I have said that before, and I will say it again,” President Barack Obama said at an AIPAC conference. “And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”
The embassy move has been met with mixed reactions.
At least 52 Palestinians died on Monday during violent clashes between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and protestors. IDF estimates there are 50,000 protestors demonstrating along the border on Monday in protest of the embassy move. The demonstrations along the border are part of a larger protest in opposition to Israel’s 70 years in existence. At 4 p.m. on Monday, the same time Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were inaugurating the embassy, groups of rioters tried to swam the border and several tried to plant explosives, according to The Times of Israel.
On another note, Jerusalem’s best and most well-known soccer team has renamed itself after Trump in honor of the president’s commitment to relocate its diplomatic headquarters.
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