Three Troubling Things About Trump's Jerusalem Announcement

Let me start by stating that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

So why would I have a problem with President Trump's declaration of the same?

There are three reasons.

First, Trump's declaration is undermined by issuing yet another six month presidential waiver delaying the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. These waivers go back to the Clinton Administration following the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act. If Trump was going to make this announcement it should have been accompanied by an announcement of a date the embassy was going to move. Otherwise this is an empty gesture.

Second, there is the opposition to this declaration in the Arab capitals. Normally, this wouldn't matter so much. But at the present time Israel and much of the Arab world, particularly Saudi Arabia are cooperating in an unprecedented manner due to the prospect of a nuclear Iran. There is cause for concern that Trump's announcement could undermine this working relationship.

Third, there is Iran. Frankly, the Trump Administration's priority should be ending the Iran nuclear deal. Naming Jerusalem the capital of Israel doesn't mean very much if Tehran develops a nuclear weapon and sees fit to launch it. Notwithstanding, Trump's decision to decertify the Iran nuclear deal in October it remains in place. Is announcing Jerusalem as Israel's capital supposed to make up for keeping the deal in place? If it is it is not much of a consolation prize.