The Situation in Israel

Kevin Shi

Image result for israel shooting palestinian protesters

    After the controversial decision by the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel back in December of last year, the U.S. Embassy has officially been moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last Monday.

    This action reawoke international criticism from other countries that had originally condemned the action as to be insightful of aggression. Countries, mostly Arabic nation, such as Iran and Turkey, have all come out against the decision, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan equating the move and the state of Israel to that of a terrorist state that partakes in genocide.

    The Arab League, European Union, and the United Nations all levied their disapproval of the U.S.’s embassy move. All heavily criticised Israel’s use of deadly force against the protesters gathered on the Gaza border, expressing concern over those shot and killed by the Israeli military during the protest.

    So far, some fifty Palestinians have been shot while demonstrating along the border, making it the one of the deadliest confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis since the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict.

    “I don’t believe any of this is necessary,” said Nathen Xing (‘20). “I think there could have been a better way to solve this issue.”

    Protests against the moving of the embassy were not just isolated to the Gaza Strip and the Middle East. In Morocco, thousands gathered in the city of Casablanca, waving Palestinian flags while chanting “death to Israel.”

    Many, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, call for the removal of the United States as a mediator for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

    “Shame on those who ignore the pain and the suffering of the Palestinian people”, said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, “We demand that this action be stopped immediately, and we want those responsible to be brought to justice from the Israeli side because this is not allowed under the provisions of international law.”

    While these protests broke out against the moving of the embassy, the United States and Israel both remain firm in their decision. President Donald Trump cited the move as to have been a “long time coming”, and that he remains committed to establishing peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

    “May there be peace,” said the President. “May God bless this embassy.”

    U.S. advisor and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, travelled to Israel for the opening of the embassy in place of Trump, stating that the move reaffirmed that Trump keeps his campaign promises.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked positively towards the move. Like Trump, he believes the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem was an important move that will be “a day that will be engraved in our national memory for generations.”

    “This is a great day. A great day for Jerusalem. A great day for the state of Israel,” said Benjamin. He thanked President Trump for the decision and the courage to move the embassy to Jerusalem, which he called the “eternal, undivided capital of Israel.”

    The situation is heating up in Israel, and the associated consequences have already turned deadly.