Virginia Political Leaders Respond to Trumpâs Jerusalem Announcement
See below for video of âPresidentâ  Trumpâs  announcement on Jerusalem  followed by statements by Virginia political leaders. For the record  I have studied in Israel  have a Masterâs in Middle East Studies  am Jewish and a strong supporter of a secure  safe Jewish democracy in the Middle East living in peace with its neighbors. My view is that  Trumpâs  move today does nothing to make anyoneâs life better  to make Israel (or anyone else) safer/more secure  to advance the cause of Middle East peace  or basically anything positive for the world. To the contrary  it is needlessly provocative  pleasing mostly certain elements (e.g.  the EW Jacksons of the world) of  Trumpâs  âbase.â As a pro-Israel  Jewish friend of mine put it  âThe move to Jerusalem has no value even for Israel â other than a negative value of course. With that  hereâs Trumpâs announcement  followed by statements from Virginia political leaders.
Connolly Statement on President Trumpâs Jerusalem Announcement
Washington  D.C. â Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA)  a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee  released the following statement on President Trumpâs Jerusalem announcement today:
âWhen President Jimmy Carter sat down at the negotiating table with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David in 1978  he reiterated that Jerusalemâs final status would not be decided unilaterally. Every successive U.S. administration since then has upheld that approach. With  President Trumpâs announcement today    he  has abandoned that commitment and it is incumbent on  his  Administration to explain to the world how this decision brings us closer to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.â
~ On Trump administration decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel ~
Iâm very concerned that @realDonaldTrumpâs #Jerusalem announcement will further set back efforts to achieve a two-state solutionâand the reaction we see across the world is troubling. This could have destabilizing consequences for a region already rife with tensions. â Tim Kaine (@timkaine) December 6  2017
See below for video of âPresidentâ   [TGT] âs  announcement on Jerusalem  followed by statements by Virginia political leaders. For the record  I have studied in Israel  have a Masterâs in Middle East Studies  am Jewish and a strong supporter of a secure  safe Jewish democracy in the Middle East living in peace with its neighbors. My view is that   [TGT] âs  move today does nothing to make anyoneâs life better  to make Israel (or anyone else) safer/more secure  to advance the cause of Middle East peace  or basically anything positive for the world. To the contrary  it is needlessly provocative  pleasing mostly certain elements (e.g.  the EW Jacksons of the world) of   [TGT] âs  âbase.â As a pro-Israel  Jewish friend of mine put it  âThe move to Jerusalem has no value even for Israel â other than a negative value of course. With that  hereâs  [TGT] âs announcement  followed by statements from Virginia political leaders.
Connolly Statement on President  [TGT] âs Jerusalem Announcement
Washington  D.C. â Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA)  a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee  released the following statement on President  [TGT] âs Jerusalem announcement today:
âWhen President Jimmy Carter sat down at the negotiating table with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David in 1978  he reiterated that Jerusalemâs final status would not be decided unilaterally. Every successive U.S. administration since then has upheld that approach. With  President  [TGT] âs announcement today    he  has abandoned that commitment and it is incumbent on  his  Administration to explain to the world how this decision brings us closer to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.â
~ On  [TGT]  administration decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel ~
Iâm very concerned that @realDonald [TGT] âs #Jerusalem announcement will further set back efforts to achieve a two-state solutionâand the reaction we see across the world is troubling. This could have destabilizing consequences for a region already rife with tensions. â Tim Kaine (@timkaine) December 6  2017