Critique the following position : President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will encourage efforts for peace.

December 2017

Donald Trump had promised to be the most pro-Israel president in US history and so did he order the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on December 6, 2017. His decision to recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a bit like a bombshell and a breaking with decades of American diplomacy within the conflict. It has caused Palestinians anger but also the international community disapproval.
Israelis welcomed this decision as the long-awaited recognition of a historical reality. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke of a “historic” day.

However, Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of the state they aspire to. Israel proclaims all Jerusalem its capital “eternal and indivisible”. The international community considers the annexation illegal and sees in East Jerusalem an occupied territory. Foreign embassies are located outside the holy city, most of them in Tel Aviv, so as not to pre-empt the outcome of negotiations. Palestinian leaders froze their relations with the Trump administration after the US president decision.

The ceremony coincided with a bloodbath in the Gaza Strip, scene of violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers along the border fence. At least 62 Palestinians were killed that day by Israeli gunfire.
Trump’s decision have had quite a bad effect on the so-called peace process as it has ratcheting up tensions and led to a Palestinian massive mobilization along the border against the Israeli imposed blockade. New clashes take place, the number of deaths is increasing day by day and the Great March of Return has led to serious violations of international law (Israeli sniper fire on unarmed demonstrators in particular).

Relations between the Trump administration and the Palestinian leadership continue to deteriorate. The closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington, the disappearance of the US consulate general for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem and the end of US aid to millions of Palestinian refugees have reinforced the Palestinian refusal any attempt at American mediation for peace with Israel.
The Oslo peace process have already been a failure as it hasn’t had any significant results for years now. It seems even harder nowadays to cope with peace negotiation knowing that the status of Jerusalem is one of the most difficult issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. None of Israel nor Palestine is willing to let go the sacred city as the capital of the other conflict player.