Trump, Jerusalem, and Peace in Middle East

I do not think that Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a good idea.  But, having said that, I think the near-hysteria that has surrounded his decision is excessive. (Here and here.)

The critics of President Trump’s decision claim that he is endangering peace in the Middle East and that it lessens the chance of an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  Which would be a more persuasive argument if it hadn’t been 50 years since the Six-Day War and 44 years since the Yom Kippur War.  The Oslo Accords were signed in 1994, and it has been 17 years since Bill Clinton’s Camp David Summit to reach an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  George W. Bush pushed for a peace agreement, as did John Kerry, during Barack Obama’s second term.  Nothing ever happened.

A peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians will happen when they both want one.  What city is recognized by the United States as the capital of Israel is not going to make a difference if both sides think a peace agreement is better for them than a continuation of the current situation.

Such an agreement might take some courage on the parts of the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians.  We have yet to see the necessary courage on both sides at the same time.  The current situation will continue until such courage appears, not because of anything the United States does.