Keywords: Jerusalem Day * Arab-Israeli conflict * Palestinian * boycott israel  * Israel * Yerushalayim * Palestine

Jerusalem Day - Israel

Jerusalem Day : America Tips its Hand
by Mikael Knighton
Christians Standing with Israel

As Israel prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reunification of its beloved, indivisible capital, Jerusalem, she was given a prophetic wake-up call, of sorts, from her presently-relevant friend to the West. The United States--an ally whose friendship with and support of Israel remains directly proportionate with her political obedience to President Bush's "vision" for a "Palestinian" state, provided a foreshadowing of things to come over the weekend by boycotting Wednesday's national celebration of the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli rule.

Notice the use of the word "rule", and not "occupation"--the terminology of choice used by the global media coverage of this week's events. As international pressure--much of which comes from the West--continues to corner Israel into making increasing "Land for Death" concessions at the bargaining table with her Arab neighbors, America's message is hardly subtle: "Israel, give up East Jerusalem."

Following the EU's Lead

Ever-quick to acquiesce to anything "Palestinian" and/or "Muslim", the European Union also announced its boycott of Wednesday's celebrations in Jerusalem. Of no secret is the fact that European nations, by and large, do not recognize the reunification of Jerusalem and see it as an "occupied" city "taken" from the Arabs in 1967. Apparently, of little significance to the European, and now American mindset is the fact that Israel regained control of Jerusalem in 1967 from Jordan--a country who snatched it from them in an Arab attempt to eradicate the newly-formed Jewish state in 1948.

Yesterday, YNet News ran the following story:

European Union countries will not take part in the celebrations marking the 40-year anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification, EU president Germany said Thursday in a diplomatic letter sent to the Foreign Ministry and the Knesset.

US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones will also not participate in the events. Diplomatic sources told Ynet that the event was not on the ambassador’s timetable. Ambassadors of all EU countries will not show up for the special Knesset session which will be on Jerusalem Day on Wednesday. European countries do not recognize Jerusalem's reunification. As far as they are concerned, east Jerusalem, which was occupied during the Six Day War, is an occupied territory.

Among the EU countries there is a difference of opinion regarding the participation in the Jerusalem Day celebrations. Germany decided to send the letter to the official bodies in Israel, but a number of EU countries are considering violating the boycott and taking part in the celebrations. The Egyptian and Jordanian ambassadors were also invited to take part in the events, and Foreign Ministry officials expressed their concern over the possibility that they would also fail to show up.

Sources in the Foreign Ministry noted that diplomatic moves were taken in a bid to prevent the European boycott. The ministry's spokesperson said that "Jerusalem is Israel's united capital. This week we will mark 40 years of reunification. Many guests were invited to take part in the events, including diplomats. We expect them to attend."

Sources in the German Embassy in Israel told Ynet on Sunday morning that the international community viewed Jerusalem from a different point of view. "We believe that Jerusalem's future should be part of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Our point of view is not new and Germany must take this stance in accordance with the rest of the countries.

"We cannot force other European Union countries to accept our opinion, but we can definitely decide for ourselves. Germany cannot take part in an official event of the Israeli government, if this implies that we recognize these borders of Jerusalem."

It should also be noted that East Jerusalem was a nonissue in the eyes of the international community for the 19 years it was under Jordanian occupation, but became the spotlight of media coverage the second Israel regained control of it in 1967--an historical event for which Israel continues to absorb much indignation.

Friend of Israel?

And now, America--a nation to which a maligned and weakened Israeli government looks before making most political decisions, has drawn yet another, more-decisive "line in the sand" regarding the Jewish reunification of Jerusalem (let us not forget that, for the past 12 years, every US president including George W. Bush has rejected biannual requests to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem), by refusing to acknowledge it.

Perspective

For as the world draws closer to its final days, so does Israel near global isolation. The prophet Zechariah foretold that in the last days, "all the nations of the earth" will come up against Jerusalem. The Scriptures do not state, "all the nations of the earth, except her ally to the West, will be gathered against it." Simply put, we are seeing an America, albeit gradually, assuming its prophetic role on the international stage.

Arab Propaganda: Part One - Indoctrination, is the first installment in a three-part overview series entitled, "The Palestinian Lie", by Mikael Knighton - author and founder of Christians Standing with Israel Ministries

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