MICHAEL MEDVED

No, the embassy won’t move to disputed East Jerusalem

Jan 31, 2017, 3:52 PM

Ongoing debate about moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is surrounded by misinformation.

One common mistake suggests that the whole city is historically disputed territory between Israelis and Palestinians. That’s not true of Western Jerusalem, built up by returning Jews over the last 150 years, where the bulk of the city’s population lives and all Israeli government buildings are located. Any new American embassy would also be built there.

In 1948’s War of Independence, Arab fighters seized only East Jerusalem, destroying Jewish neighborhoods that had flourished for over a thousand years, while slaughtering or expelling all Jewish residents.

Even before Israelis re-captured East Jerusalem in 1967, no portion of the city ever served as a Palestinian capital—or even a provincial capital for any Arab rulers. By contrast, Jerusalem has served as the ancient Jewish capital for more than 1,000 years, and Israel’s sole center of government ever since rebirth of the modern Jewish state 69 years ago.

Michael Medved on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to michael medvedTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 12pm for The Michael Medved Show.

Michael Medved

Gaza attacks...

Michael Medved

Medved: The sad, ‘crazy’ tale of a Gaza water park, and Hamas’ war against fun

After barely three months of operation in 2010, the dream of a fanciful facility to attract tourists and delight locals lay in ruins.

6 months ago

2024 presidential debate...

Michael Medved

Medved: Will 2024 be the year of crucial political debates on TV?

It’s not difficult to imagine either Biden or Trump uttering some inaccurate or incoherent combinations of words that could undercut any momentum.

7 months ago

medved populism...

Michael Medved

Medved: GOP heading to irrelevance as party fails to embrace demographic changes

The spreading speculation about a new civil war isn't based on regionalism this time, but on distinctions in education and identity.

8 months ago

biden...

Michael Medved

Medved: How Biden learned money misdeeds can hurt most of all

The doomed example of "Tricky Dick" demonstrates the way that financial wrongdoing and personal enrichment can upset the public more than sex scandals.

8 months ago

Trump...

Michael Medved

Picking the right running mate could powerfully boost Trump’s prospects

It’s impossible to forecast who Donald Trump will pick as his running mate for the upcoming election of 2024, but it’s safe to say who he won’t select.

9 months ago

trump campaign...

Michael Medved

Medved: Can a new Trump victimhood campaign win back the White House?

Facing more than a half-dozen hostile legal proceedings before next year’s presidential election, can Donald Trump mount an effective campaign?

9 months ago

No, the embassy won’t move to disputed East Jerusalem