A U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Won't Hurt the Chances for Peace

(Wall Street Journal) Editorial - Opponents say moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would poison chances for an Israel-Palestinian compromise over the city. But the relocation would merely acknowledge the reality that Israel will never give up Jerusalem in any negotiated settlement. It might even help by sending a useful message to the Palestinians that their maximalist claims to Israeli territory are an obstacle to peace. Neighboring Arab states might protest for public show, but they have been getting closer to Israel for their own shared strategic reasons - i.e., the common enemies of jihadists and Iran. The symbolism of the U.S. Embassy location won't stop that cooperation. If the location of an embassy is enough to block peace talks, then there must not be much of an underlying basis for peace. Mr. Trump says he still wants to revive talks, and if moving the U.S. Embassy reassures Israelis of U.S. support, so much the better.


2016-12-21 00:00:00

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