WASHINGTON: Following pressure and warnings from US partners in the Arab world, US President Donald Trump toed the traditional American policy line Thursday by renewing a waiver to halt moving the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Trump issued a six-month waiver signed by successive US presidents since 1995, that blocks the Jerusalem Embassy Act 鈥� approved by Congress then 鈥� and that requires the American Embassy to move from Tel Aviv to the holy city. The move marked a break from a campaign promise that Trump vigorously embraced until he took office last January.
鈥淲e will move the American Embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem,鈥� Trump said in a speech to Israel鈥檚 advocacy group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in March, 2016.
While the White House issued a statement that 鈥渘o one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the president鈥檚 strong support for Israel鈥� and that 鈥渢he question is not if that move happens, but only when,鈥� it was unclear whether such a move would be carried out in the near future. The White House added that the decision was made to 鈥渕aximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and Palestinians.鈥�
Ghaith Al-Omari, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East policy, told Arab News that 鈥淭rump signed the waiver for two reasons.鈥� First, what Trump 鈥渉eard from Arab leaders, starting with King Abdallah of Jordan (back in February) about the impact such a decision would have on US allies in the region both in terms of how it will affect them domestically but also complicate resetting Arab-US relations.鈥�
Al-Omari who served as an adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team during the 1999-2001 said if the embassy move were to happen at this time, 鈥渋t would have probably provoked anti-US sentiment in the region and possibly sparked (public) demonstrations.鈥� Such a development 鈥渨ould have been used by those in opposition to undermine pro-US Arab governments by criticizing their close relations with the US at a time when Washington and key Arab countries are looking for a reset in relations.鈥�
鈥淭his would be particularly problematic for Jordan given its special role in Jerusalem (custodian for holy places in the city), but it would have been a challenge to other US allies like Egypt and 萝莉视频,鈥� Al-Omari added. Trump had just returned from a trip to 萝莉视频 and Israel which aimed at restoring relations and mending fractures with Washington鈥檚 traditional partners.
On the peace process level, Al-Omari said that a second reason for Trump鈥檚 restraint was that moving the embassy 鈥渨ould make resuming the peace talks practically impossible鈥� at a time when Washington is attempting to jumpstart direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians stalled since 2013. Still, Al-Omari added that 鈥渂y continuing to indicate that he will move the embassy during his presidency, Trump will keep this as a potential pressure point vis-a-vis the Palestinians.鈥�
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas鈥� spokesman, told Arab News on Thursday that the decision was 鈥渁n important positive step and would boost chances to achieve peace.鈥�
鈥淭his decision is a reflection of the US administration鈥檚 keenness to make peace and build bridges of trust with partners especially after the successful Riyadh Summit and the meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Trump. We are committed to working with President Trump and his administration to reach a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.鈥�