Israel is closer than ever before to a Peace Deal claims Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu). Meanwhile the US Senate unanimously okays a US Embassy in Jerusalem.
The Defense Minister, speaking to Dana Weiss of Channel 2, stated that “Arab countries have internalized that their problem isn’t Israel. Israel can be the solution to their problem.”
The Defense Minister also discussed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s efforts to bridge the gap between Israel and Palestinian Authority to reach a final agreement.
“You ask if Netanyahu is doing everything he can. He is. I can testify to the fact that he is making great efforts.”
“If someone brings a deal and puts it on the table and it includes an agreement with all the moderate Arab countries, includes the opening of embassies, trade relations, direct flights – I think that this could receive very broad support, both in the Knesset and among the populace.”
Well, as of today, June 8th, 2017, the United States Senate okays a US Embassy in Jerusalem. The Senate for the first time in a long time, without any resistance, unanimously adopted a resolution calling on President Trump to abide by a 1995 law that calls for the U.S. Embassy to be in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 calls for the move to Jerusalem and solidifies the affirmation of Israel’s historic claim to Jerusalem. However, it also provides a waiver that the President can sign every six months should the President determine that the move might harm national security.
Since 1995, the waiver has been applied by both Republican and Democratic Presidents alike, including President Trump just days ago.
The adopted resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem during the six-day war.
The resolution states:
Be it resolved, that the Senate (1) recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and extends its friendship and hopes for peace to the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel; (2) reaffirms its support for Israel’s commitment to religious freedom and administration of holy sites in Jerusalem; (3) continues to support strengthening the mutually beneficial American-Israeli relationship; (4) commends Egypt and Jordan, former combatant states of the Six Day War, who in subsequent years embraced a vision of peace and coexistence with Israel and have continued to uphold their respective peace agreements; (5) reaffirms that it is the longstanding, bipartisan policy of the United States Government that the permanent status of Jerusalem remains a matter to be decided between the parties through final status negotiations towards a two-state solution; and (6) reaffirms the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–45) as United States law, and calls upon the President and all United States officials to abide by its provisions.
The adopted legislature also notes that Jerusalem has been the focal point of Jewish religious devotion for 3,000 years.
Could the US provide the deal that the Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman requested? Just recently Donald Trump met with Abbas and claimed that he wanted to negotiate or arbitrate the final peace agreement. Having said that Trump dispatched Jared Kushner to mediate the situation, and also stated that if Kushner can’t accomplish peace in the Middle East no one can.