Jewish Federation Of Cleveland Welcomes Trump's Jerusalem Actions

BEACHWOOD, OH — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The controversial decision comes amid fears that America's actions could trigger further tensions in the Middle East. Now, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland is weighing in.

The JFC sent out an official statement on Wednesday night saying it "welcomes the official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital by the United States." The statement appears to applaud the administration's actions as a bipartisan move.

The JFC then says, "The Federation looks forward to the day when the Israeli and Palestinian leadership bring both peoples to reconciliation in the region and a lasting peace."

The State Department is also preparing to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, another move that could be controversial for Palestine and its supporters, but was applauded as "bipartisan" by the JFC.

Trump had made campaign promises in 2016 saying he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. During a speech on Wednesday, he called the action "overdue."

"All challenges demand new approaches," Trump said Wednesday. "It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

To further understand Wednesday's announcement and its impact globally, read this Patch article exploring the issues.

The full statement from the JFC is below.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland welcomes the official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the United States. This position comes as a confirmation of Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s capital since 1950. Furthermore, it reiterates the bipartisan consensus established by the passage of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act, which affirmed that each sovereign nation, under international law and custom may designate its own capital. The administration’s decision to begin the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem similarly reflects the bipartisan agreement in the 1995 law.

Under Israel’s sovereignty, Jerusalem has been a holy city where the rights of all faiths have been respected and protected. Official recognition of Jerusalem should not preclude or prejudice final status negotiations, which must be determined by the Israelis and Palestinians directly. The Federation looks forward to the day when the Israeli and Palestinian leadership bring both peoples to reconciliation in the region and a lasting peace.

Stephen H. Hoffman
President

Gary L. Gross
Board Chair

Bradley J. Schlang
Community Relations Committee Chair

Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images