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Federal policy on Israel and Palestine, 2017-2018

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Note: This page tracked major events and policy positions of the Trump administration and the 115th United States Congress on Israel and Palestine from 2017 and 2018.

In his first interview with The Wall Street Journal after being elected president, Donald Trump said that he wanted to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he described as "the war that never ends." He continued, "That’s the ultimate deal. As a deal maker, I’d like to do…the deal that can’t be made. And do it for humanity’s sake."[1]

Trump has said that he would support a one- or two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On February 15, 2017, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said, "I'm very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one. I thought for a while the two-state looked like it may be the easier of the two, but honestly if Bibi and if the Palestinians — if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I'm happy with the one they like the best."[2]

Trump's first major policy move in the region was to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He also said the U.S. Embassy would be relocated to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. On December 6, 2017, in a speech announcing the move, Trump said, “This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement. Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace.”[3]

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision, calling it “an important step toward peace.” Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, criticized the decision, saying, “This step is prejudging, dictating, closing doors for negotiation, and I think President Trump disqualified America from playing any role in the peace process."[3]

The U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem was formally moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018.

This page outlines major events and policy positions of the Trump administration on Israel and Palestine from 2017 to 2018. Click on the timeline below to learn more about each headline.

September 10, 2018: Trump administration announces closure of PLO office

On September 10, 2018, the Trump administration announced that it would close the office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington, D.C. The office was established as part of the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords that outlined a plan for peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.[4][5]

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert explained the decision in a statement, saying, “The PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel. To the contrary, PLO leadership has condemned a U.S. peace plan they have not yet seen and refused to engage with the U.S. government with respect to peace efforts and otherwise.”[4]

Dr. Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian diplomat, responded to the decision, saying, “This is yet another affirmation of the Trump Administration’s policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people. … This dangerous escalation shows that the US is willing to disband the international system in order to protect Israeli crimes and attacks against the land and people of Palestine as well as against peace and security in the rest of our region.”[6]

Aaron David Miller of the Wilson Center said that the decision to close the office, along with the Trump administration's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, marked a change in U.S. policy. He said, “They are dismantling the traditional American architecture to create a two-state solution.”[7]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) praised the decision, saying, "Until today, presidents from both parties let the PLO keep an office open in Washington, D.C., which signaled to Palestinian leaders that violence and intransigence had no costs, and so hindered the cause of peace."[7]

June 19, 2018: U.S. withdraws from United Nations Human Rights Council

On June 19, 2018, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Obama administration joined the council in 2009 after the George W. Bush administration declined to do so.[8]

Haley cited the group's treatment of Israel as a reason for the withdrawal. She said, "Earlier this year, as it has in previous years, the Human Rights Council passed five resolutions against Israel — more than the number passed against North Korea, Iran, and Syria combined. This disproportionate focus and unending hostility toward Israel is clear proof that the council is motivated by political bias, not by human rights. If the Human Rights Council is going to attack countries that uphold human rights and shield countries that abuse human rights, then America should not provide it with credibility."[8]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the decision, saying, "Israel thanks President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Nikki Haley for their courageous decision against the hypocrisy and the lies of the so-called UN Human Rights Council. For years, the UNHRC has proven to be a biased, hostile, anti-Israel organization that has betrayed its mission of protecting human rights." Elliot Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said, "There is always an argument for staying, which is that the United States will be in a better position to help defend Israel. But this council is hopelessly compromised, so leaving is the right choice."[8][9]

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN commissioner for human rights, said the following in response to the withdrawal: "Disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Given the state of human rights in today's world, the U.S. should be stepping up, not stepping back." John Sifton, an advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, also criticized the move, saying, "All this administration seems to care about when it comes to the council is defending Israel. If the Trump administration's complaint is that the council is biased and flawed, they've just made it more so."[8][10]

The United Nations Human Rights Council was formed in 2006. The council's website in 2018 described the council as "an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them."[11][12]

May 14, 2018: U.S. Embassy to Israel moves from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

WhiteHouse.gov, "U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Dedication Ceremony," May 14, 2018

On May 14, 2018, the Trump administration moved the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making good on a campaign promise by President Donald Trump. As of 2018, the Israeli government conducted its business from Jerusalem and considered it the nation’s capital, but most of the international community did not recognize the city as the capital.[13]

In a speech, Trump said, “For many years we failed to acknowledge the obvious: the plain reality that Israel's capital is Jerusalem. On Dec. 6, 2017, at my direction, the United States finally and officially recognized Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Today, we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the historic and sacred land of Jerusalem.”[13]

Trump also called for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, saying, “Our greatest hope is for peace. The United States remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement, and we continue to support the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites, including at the Temple Mount, also known as Haram al-Sharif.”[13]

The move was criticized by the international community and met with violence between Palestinian protesters and Israel’s military resulting in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians. The Palestine Liberation Organization called on citizens to protest the embassy’s opening. Palestinian leaders refused to meet with Trump administration officials and did not want the U.S. to be involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, Jordan’s King Abdullah, and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, all U.S. allies, also criticized the move.[14][15][16]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying, “President Trump, by recognizing history, you have made history. My mother said you can’t go any farther, that was near the border. There was sniper fire. That was then—this is now. Today the embassy of the most powerful nation on earth, our greatest ally, the United States of America, today the United States Embassy opened here. What a difference.”[15]

The move was also praised by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) who said in a statement, “In a long overdue move, we have moved our embassy to Jerusalem. Every nation should have the right to choose its capital. I sponsored legislation to do this two decades ago, and I applaud President Trump for doing it.”[17]

Trump moved the embassy under the bipartisan 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act. It called on the president to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The law was unanimously reaffirmed by the Senate in 2017. Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all signed waivers to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv.[18][19]

February 23, 2018: State Department announces date for opening embassy in Jerusalem

On February 23, 2018, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert announced that the U.S. would open a new embassy in Jerusalem in the Arnona neighborhood on May 14, 2018.

Nauert said, "The opening will coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary. The Embassy will initially be located in the Arnona neighborhood, in a modern building that now houses consular operations of U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem. Those consular operations, including American citizen and visa services, will continue at the Arnona facility without interruption, as part of the Embassy. Consulate General Jerusalem will continue to operate as an independent mission with an unchanged mandate, from its historic Agron Road location. Initially, the interim Embassy in Arnona will contain office space for the Ambassador and a small staff. By the end of next year, we intend to open a new Embassy Jerusalem annex on the Arnona compound that will provide the Ambassador and his team with expanded interim office space. In parallel, we have started the search for a site for our permanent Embassy to Israel, the planning and construction of which will be a longer-term undertaking."[20]

The Wall Street Journal reported that Republican donor Sheldon Adelson "has offered to contribute to the effort to build a new embassy, but the discussions are informal so far." It was unclear if the U.S. could legally accept the gift from Adelson.[21]

On December 6, 2017, President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announced the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.[3]

January 16, 2018: State Department freezes $65 million for Palestinian aid program

On January 16, the State Department announced that it froze $65 million of its planned $125 million in funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). As of 2018, the agency provided healthcare and education services to Palestinian refugees. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at a press conference, "One of the things that the United States would like to do is see some revisions made in how UNRWA operates," stating that the administration had been monitoring UNRWA's activities and spending. A reporter asked Nauert if the funding freeze was in response to a United Nations General Assembly vote to disapprove of Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Nauert responded, "This is not aimed at punishing anyone." She added that the administration wanted other countries to contribute more to the organization, stating, "The United States Government and the Trump administration believe that there should be more so-called burden sharing to go around."[22]

December 6, 2017: Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital

On December 6, 2017, President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He also said the U.S. Embassy would be relocated to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.[3]

In a speech announcing the move, Trump said, “This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement. Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace.”[3]

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision, calling it “an important step toward peace.” Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, criticized the decision, saying, “This step is prejudging, dictating, closing doors for negotiation, and I think President Trump disqualified America from playing any role in the peace process." British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized Trump’s decision.[3]

The move fulfilled Trump’s campaign promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. As candidates, Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all promised to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but all ultimately did not fulfill the promise, citing national security concerns. Trump commented on the campaign promise, saying, "While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering."[23][24]

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump faced a deadline under the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which "requires the president to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem or sign a waiver to avoid doing so. Mr. Trump signed the waiver on Wednesday, but directed the start of the yearslong process of moving the embassy, including by identifying, designing and constructing a new complex."[3]

In his speech, Trump criticized previous presidents for signing the waivers. He said, "Presidents issued these waivers under the belief that delaying the recognition of Jerusalem would advance the cause of peace. Some say they lacked courage, but they made their best judgments based on facts as they understood them at the time. Nevertheless, the record is in. After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result."[24]

December 9, 2017: U.N. Security Council criticizes Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital

On December 9, 2017, 14 UN Security Council nations condemned, although not officially, Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump’s action was “not in line with Security Council resolutions and was unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region,” according to a joint statement by the ambassadors of Britain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy.[25]

December 18, 2017: Haley blocks U.N. Security Council resolution on Jerusalem

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley voted against the United Nations Security Council adopting a resolution that stated "that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered...the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.” Brought before the council by Egypt, the draft resolution referred to "recent decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem" and called on nations “to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem.” The other 14 members of the Security Council voted to adopt the resolution. One negative vote from a permanent member nation (the United States, China, Russia, France, or the United Kingdom) prevents the adoption of a resolution by the council.[26]

August 20-21, 2017: White House sends delegation to Israel

White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, along with Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt and deputy National Security Adviser Dana Powell, traveled to the Middle East on August 20-21, 2017, for meetings with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, throughout the week.[27] Earlier in the month, the White House released this statement about the planned trip: "[Trump] believes that the restoration of calm and the stabilized situation in Jerusalem after the recent crisis on the Temple Mount-Haram al Sharif has created an opportunity to continue discussions and the pursuit of peace that began early in his administration."[28]

June 1, 2017: Trump keeps embassy in Tel Aviv

On June 1, 2017, Trump signed a waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act to keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv rather than relocate it to Jerusalem. President Bill Clinton (D), George W. Bush (R), and Barack Obama (D) signed this waiver. The White House indicated that the embassy would eventually be moved, saying, "As [Trump] has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when."[29][30]

May 3, 2017: Palestinian Authority president meets with Trump

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Trump at the White House on May 3, 2017. Trump made the following remarks during a joint press conference:

“ I'm committed to working with Israel and the Palestinians to reach an agreement. But any agreement cannot be imposed by the United States, or by any other nation. The Palestinians and Israelis must work together to reach an agreement that allows both peoples to live, worship, and thrive and prosper in peace. And I will do whatever is necessary to facilitate the agreement—to mediate, to arbitrate anything they'd like to do. But I would love to be a mediator or an arbitrator or a facilitator. And we will get this done.[31] ”
—President Donald Trump[32]

He also discussed working with Palestine to combat the Islamic State. “I know President Abbas has spoken out against ISIS and other terrorist groups, and we must continue to build our partnership with the Palestinian security forces to counter and defeat terrorism,” Trump said.[32]

February 15, 2017: Israeli prime minister meets with Trump

On February 15, 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump at the White House to discuss U.S.-Israel relations. At a joint news conference, Trump commented on Israeli settlement activity, saying to Netanyahu, "I'd like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit. We'll work something out, but I would like to see a deal be made." Trump also said that he would accept either a one- or two-state solution if Israel and Palestine were both satisfied with the arrangement. "I'm very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one. I thought for a while the two-state looked like it may be the easier of the two, but honestly if Bibi and if the Palestinians — if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I'm happy with the one they like the best," he said.[2]

February 2, 2017: White House releases statement on Israeli settlement activity

The White House released a statement on February 2, 2017, cautioning that further Israeli settlement activity could impact the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. "The American desire for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians has remained unchanged for 50 years. While we don’t believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal. As the President has expressed many times, he hopes to achieve peace throughout the Middle East region. The Trump administration has not taken an official position on settlement activity and looks forward to continuing discussions, including with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he visits with President Trump later this month," the statement read.[33][34]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Donald Trump, in Exclusive Interview, Tells WSJ He Is Willing to Keep Parts of Obama Health Law," November 11, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 NPR, "'I'd Like To See You Hold Back On Settlements,' Trump Tells Netanyahu," February 15, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The Wall Street Journal, "Trump Says U.S. Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital," December 6, 2017
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 State.gov, "Closure of the PLO Office in Washington," September 10, 2018
  5. ↑ History.State.gov, "The Oslo Accords and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process," accessed September 12, 2018
  6. ↑ Negotiations Affairs Department, "Dr. Saeb Erekat on the Announcement to Close the Palestinian Mission in Washington," September 10, 2018
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Pressure on Palestinians Raises Middle East Tension," September 10, 2018
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The New York Times, "Trump Administration Withdraws U.S. From U.N. Human Rights Council," June 19, 2018
  9. ↑ Facebook, "Benjamin Netanyahu," accessed June 20, 2018
  10. ↑ Arutz Sheva 7, "UN Human Rights Commissioner: 'U.S. withdrawal disappointing but not surprising,'" June 19, 2018
  11. ↑ The Hill, "US pulls out of UN Human Rights Council," June 19, 2018
  12. ↑ United Nations Human Rights Council, "Welcome to the Human Rights Council," accessed June 20, 2018
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Politico, "Read Trump’s speech on the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem," May 14, 2018
  14. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Opens to a Fraught Climate," May 13, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Fox News, "US opens embassy in Jerusalem, recognizing city as ‘true capital’ of Israel," May 14, 2018
  16. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Scores Killed as Palestinians Protest U.S. Embassy Opening in Jerusalem," May 14, 2018
  17. ↑ The Hill, "Schumer applauds Trump on moving US Embassy to Jerusalem," May 14, 2018
  18. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Keeps His Promise To Open U.S. Embassy In Jerusalem, Israel," May 14, 2018
  19. ↑ Reuters, "Why is the U.S. moving its embassy to Jerusalem?" May 7, 2018
  20. ↑ State.gov, "Opening of U.S. Embassy Jerusalem," February 23, 2018
  21. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "U.S.’s Jerusalem Embassy to Open in May, Could Get Adelson Funds," February 23, 2018
  22. ↑ U.S. Department of State, "Department Press Briefing," January 16, 2018
  23. ↑ USA Today, "On Jerusalem, Donald Trump ended a quarter century of lies," December 6, 2017
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "Statement by President Trump on Jerusalem," December 6, 2017
  25. ↑ The Hill, "UN Security Council nations denounce Trump’s Jerusalem decision," December 9, 2017
  26. ↑ The United Nations, "Middle East: Security Council fails to adopt resolution on Jerusalem," December 18, 2017
  27. ↑ Politico, "Kushner in Middle East for peace talks," August 22, 2017
  28. ↑ ABC News, "Trump to dispatch team to work on Israel-Palestinian peace," August 11, 2017
  29. ↑ NBC News, "Trump Signs Waiver to Keep Embassy in Tel Aviv," June 1, 2017
  30. ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "Trump waives law requiring U.S. move its embassy to Jerusalem," June 1, 2017
  31. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "Remarks by President Trump and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Joint Statement," May 3, 2017
  33. ↑ Reuters, "White House says Israeli settlement building may not help peace," February 2, 2017
  34. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Statement by the Press Secretary," February 2, 2017
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