Advertisement

Opinion: Donald Trump is the wrong president to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

Share

To the editor: As much as my heart longs for an Israel with Jerusalem as its capital, moving the U.S. Embassy to that city would be an empty gesture from a president with demonstrated overt and covert prejudices. Such a move is not about support for Israel or Jews, it’s about underlying prejudice against Muslims. (“Trump administration could upend decades of U.S. policy on Israel and Palestinians,” Dec. 16)

It would needlessly inflame tensions and place such an embassy in greater danger than was the case for our embassy in Libya. It would put in jeopardy the fragile peace with the Palestinians and could light the fuse of another deadly and costly war in the Middle East.

These people so divided in the Arab world would now have a rallying point to draw them together, not only against Israel but against us as well.

Advertisement

Michael Solomon, Canoga Park

..

To the editor: After seeing another reference to “traditionally Arab East Jerusalem” in your article, I feel a history lesson is in order.

The eastern part of the city of Jerusalem is “traditionally Arab” only since 1948, when the Jordanian army captured it during Israel’s war for independence. The Arabs expelled all the Jewish residents, including from the historic Jewish Quarter. They destroyed ancient synagogues and used headstones from Jewish cemeteries for paving stones.

This situation existed for 19 years, until 1967, when Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan. That hardly constitutes a “tradition,” much less a historical right.

Laszlo Regos, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Donald Trump says he wants to make peace between Israel and Palestine. But his choice of David Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel will not advance that goal.

Advertisement

As a Jewish American who wants peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians, I welcome a new approach to the conflict — after all, no current or previous approach has improved the lives of people in the region. But Friedman’s extremist views seem destined to deepen the conflict rather than end it.

My greatest fear is that Friedman’s appointment will encourage the right-wing Israeli government to take drastic and unprecedented action such as attempting an ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Would the international community allow this to happen?

Jeff Warner, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

Advertisement