This week momentous events continue to unfold for the territory squeezed between the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the country of Jordan to the east.
President Trump, on Wednesday December 6, 2017, officially recognized Jerusalem as modern Israel’s capital with its future boundaries, he said, to be decided by the Israelis and the Palestinians.
The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, met with leaders in Europe in an effort to convince the EU member nations to also formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. That happened on Monday December 11, 2017. But, so far, no other nation has followed suit.
The Summit
On Wednesday December 13, 2017, the members of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) convened an emergency summit, according to DW TV, to declare East Jerusalem officially the capital of Palestine. Over 50 Muslim nations from around the world were represented.
At the Summit the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, called on the United Nations to replace the USA as the broker for peace in the area, DW News said.
DW News also reported that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, who was not at the summit, told his Saudi Consultative Council,
“The kingdom has called for a political solution to resolve regional crises, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue and the restoration of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including the right to establish their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital.”
And the leader of his arch enemy, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted,
“The recent decision by the US admin made it clear that the US is only seeking to secure the maximum interests of the Zionists and has no respect for the legitimate rights of Palestinians. The US has never been an honest mediator and will never be.”
The OIC Secretary General, Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen of Saudi Arabia, said,
“The OIC calls again on those states that have not as yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so promptly.”
Hanukkah 2017
December 13th on the Roman calendar also completes the first full day of the Jewish eight-day celebration known as Hanukkah — in English the Festival of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah, which began at sunset on the 12th, commemorates the time, almost 2200 years ago, when Judah wrestled control of the Jerusalem temple from a foreign power and rededicated it. In 70 CE that temple was destroyed by the Romans. The events surrounding that destruction were covered in our September 1, 2017 article, “A Sad Day for Judah ”.
The Palestinians, supported by many other Muslims, have never wavered in their goal to prevent the construction of a temple to replace the one Judah lost.
Sanction Threat
OIC member states were also encouraged to “impose political and economic sanctions” on anyone “recognizing the Israeli annexation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif” (Jerusalem), as well as on anyone that they consider to be “perpetuating Israeli colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories”.
Considering everything the OIC and others have stated, at this time America and its president would seem to be on an extremely short list.
Photo Credits: Jerusalem by Ted Swedenburg, License: CC BY-NC 2.0.
