Today’s Top Stories
1. The White House confirmed that the US will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begin the process of relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu and his aides were ‘active partners’ with President Donald Trump’s team on making the move happen. Trump is due to discuss Jerusalem in a speech (at 1:00 PM Eastern time) after this roundup was published. Haaretz explains the timeframe:
In addition, the senior officials said that moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could “take years,” and that Trump could possible sign the presidential waiver delaying that move once again in the future, in order to allow the logistical process of moving the embassy to be carried out accordingly. Trump’s speech will not include a strict timeline for the process of moving the embassy.
The Palestinians announced they would hold three days of rage. The extended days of rage might make up for the missing rage over Russia’s and Vanuatu’s recognition of Jerusalem’s capital status months ago. Meanwhile, the Philippines has me going hmmmmm.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tells Israel he's interested in moving his country's embassy to Jerusalem – @ReshetBet
— Dan Williams (@DanWilliams) December 6, 2017
2. The US House of Representatives passed the Taylor Force Act, which would cut US aid to the PA over stipends to terrorists and their families. The bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to vote on it this month. Taylor Force, the bill’s namesake, was a US national stabbed to death by a Palestinian in March, 2016.
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3. At the request of Syrian doctors, the IDF launched a maternity field hospital on the Syrian side of the Golan border. The Jerusalem Post explains:
According to the commander, the hospital opened two weeks ago in the village of Bariqa in the Quneitra region of the Syrian-controlled portion of the Golan Heights. While it is staffed entirely by Syrian doctors, the incubators, beds and ultrasound equipment come from Israel. . .
Since it opened, more than 200 women have been treated at the hospital, more than 30 of whom gave birth. “It’s a great thing we have made with the Syrian doctors. A lot of women are very grateful,” the lieutenant-colonel said.
In the News
• Too little, too late? Abbas calls for Palestinian reconciliation, hours before Trump’s Jerusalem announcement.
• US expats in Jerusalem will be intrigued by Uri Blau.
Sources suggest @POTUS speech about Jerusalem might include a statement allowing Jerusalem-born Americans to register "Israel" as place of birth pic.twitter.com/RrrARDgTxA
— Uri Blau (@uri_blau) December 6, 2017
• After Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer confirmed to Politico that he was in contact with members of Donald Trump’s transition team (possibly including Michael Flynn) during last year’s fight against UN Security Council resolution 2334, the Jerusalem Post takes a closer look at whether Dermer legally entangled Trump and Jared Kushner.
But whatever his status – and whether or not he chooses to waive any immunities – his public admission of his role in the events underlying the case could give momentum to force him to testify as a fact-witness, which might not have been the case if he had said nothing.
• Good luck to Stephen Farrell, the new Reuters’ Jerusalem bureau chief.
https://twitter.com/LukeReuters/status/938106879649157122
• Iran reportedly operates Yemen-Gaza weapons smuggling ring
• A survey picked up by the Times of Israel found declining support for Israel among Evangelical millennials.
• Berlin art show sparks outrage with jihadi ‘martyrs’ display.
• Israel’s F-35 stealth fighters declared operational, a year after their arrival.
Commentary
• Pundits didn’t forget thee, O’ Jerusalem . . .
– Anshel Pfeffer: Trump set to recognize Jerusalem – but don’t panic just yet
– Shmuel Rosner: Of course Jerusalem is Israel’s capital
– Zvi Bar’el: Let Trump recognize Jerusalem already
– Avi Issacharoff: For Abbas, come hell or intifada, Jerusalem is the hill to die on
– Charles Bybelezer: On Jerusalem: Denying reality & the absence of ‘Palestine’
– Jeremy Ben-Ami: Trump is bringing bloodshed, not peace to Jerusalem
– Emmanuel Navon: Jerusalem is the test of US leadership in the Middle East
– Josh Rogin: Trump’s Israel-Palestine policy is at war with itself
– Chemi Shalev: President Trump, don’t do us any favors on Jerusalem
– Eliora Katz: The Zionist case against an embassy move (click via Twitter)
– Jeffrey Salkin: Don’t mess around with Jerusalem
– Yoram Ettinger: For the sake of national security
– Alex Fishman: In battle against Jerusalem recognition, Palestinians united by Al-Aqsa
– Fred Lucas: US not allowing Palestinians to control the terms of the peace process
• Staff-eds weighed in on Jerusalem too.
– New York Times: Does President Trump want to negotiate Middle East peace?
– Los Angeles Times: Trump’s Jerusalem ploy could ruin the ‘ultimate deal’
– The Australian: Trump’s candour on Israel
– New York Daily News: Jerusalem is Israel’s capital: Applaud President Trump’s recognition of the city’s rightful status
• For a sense of what the critics are saying, see Robert Fisk, Nicholas Blincoe and Patrick Cockburn.
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Nathan Diament: Finally in sight, an end to US taxpayer sponsorship of Palestinian terrorism
– Yonah Jeremy Bob: Four main take-aways from ICC report on Israel-Palestinians
Featured image: CC BY Robert Cooke; Capitol via YouTube/Expedia.com.au; Jerusalem via Wikimedia Commons;
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