US Senator Calls Jerusalem Israel's Capital.

[elleng]

Last edited Wed Feb 20, 2013, 02:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: nyt/ap

An influential Republican senator has called Jerusalem the capital of Israel, taking a stand on an explosive issue between Israel and the Palestinians.

The fate of Jerusalem is one of the most intractable issues in the Mideast conflict with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming rights to the city.

In his first official visit to the country, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told Israel's president on Wednesday that Jerusalem is "of course the capital of your country." He reiterated America's bipartisan support for Israel.

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EDIT, for information:

The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995[1] is a public law of the United States passed by the 104th Congress on October 23, 1995. It was passed for the purposes of initiating and funding the relocation of the Embassy of the United States in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no later than May 31, 1999, and attempted to withhold 50 percent of the funds appropriated to the State Department specifically for ‘‘Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad’’ as allocated in fiscal year 1999 until the United States Embassy in Jerusalem had officially opened.[2] The act also called for Jerusalem to remain an undivided city and for it to be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel. Israel's declared capital is Jerusalem, but this is not internationally recognized, pending final status talks in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States has withheld recognition of the city as Israel's capital. The proposed law was adopted by the Senate (93–5),[3] and the House (374–37).[4]

Since passage, the law has never been implemented, because of opposition from Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, who view it as a Congressional infringement on the executive branch’s constitutional authority over foreign policy; they have consistently claimed the presidential waiver on national security interests.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Embassy_Act

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/02/20/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-us.html?hp

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[annabanana]

1. The very DEFINITION of

not ready for primetime

[corkhead]

2. we are witnessing the "Rubio Corollary" of the Peter Principle as it applies to elected officals

[oberliner]

3. "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."

Obama, 2008.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91150432

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Yeah, he also says 'I respect Senator McCain' in there too...

So, grain of salt and all that.

(But your point is quite valid. )

[leftynyc]

6. Shhhh

You're ruining a perfectly good outrageously outrageous outrage.

[oberliner]

60. Yes, I guess people like to pretend

I wonder how popular Obama would actually be if he was posting on DU.

[another_liberal]

14. West Jerusalem, maybe.

He said, "Undivided." That does not mean the same as, "Under one Sovereignty," or "The territory of one Nation alone." After all, Rome contains the Vatican (which is considered a separate nation) but Rome is hardly a "divided" city.

I think the President was suggesting that Jerusalem should never be divided in the sense Berlin, for example, was literally divided during the four decades of East Germany's existence.

[Mass]

4. Let me guess: Marco Rubio.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. I am betting that he thinks

The Manger where Christ was born, must be where the Capital Building is.. The GOP is full of incredible stupid.

[former9thward]

25. Have you been to Israel?

Do you know where their capital building is?

[AsahinaKimi]

26. I don't however

I wouldn't make such a silly statement as he would either.

[former9thward]

28. Why is it silly?

You don't know where their capital is and you call it silly. Maybe you should look at a map of Israel. "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided Obama in 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positions_on_Jerusalem

[AsahinaKimi]

29. Why are you defending

Republicans?

[former9thward]

30. I am defending a country's right to name where its capital is at.

You wish to take that sovereign right away -- even though you admit you have no idea where the capital is. President Obama told you where it was in 2008. Why are you attacking Obama?

[AsahinaKimi]

31. Whoa whoa whoa hoss, back the truck up..

Where you getting this that I said anything of the kind? I was talking about Marco Rubio! Show me a link? Why am I attacking Obama? Where you getting that? You must have me mistaken for someone else, because I can assure you I never said anything of the kind. I will wait for your link, while you try and figure out who I am, K?
Oyaoya! Shinjirarenai!!

[former9thward]

32. If naming Jerusalem is "silly" then you must think that answer is incorrect.

Israel has named Jerusalem its capital since its founding. Again where is its capital if not Jerusalem?

[AsahinaKimi]

33. Dude you are totally confused...

And, I am done with this, have a nice day!

[former9thward]

39. I knew I would not get a answer.

To an incredibly simple question. All you have to do is google a map of Israel. Of course that might give you the same "silly" answer that both Rubio and Obama gave.

[AsahinaKimi]

40. Hey Former9thward... YOU WIN...

Thanks for playing... YOU will receive your prize from the Mods later in the day...enjoy YOUR glowing winning moment, and I am happy you were able to beat down a girl...in this contest of wits!

[onenote]

57. It really is irrelevant if you are male or female

You made a statement that you couldn't defend. It would have made more sense for you to simply admit that you didn't know that President Obama had made pretty much the same statement four years ago and noted that you would give the matter more thought. Instead, you resorted to playing duck and weave and only made yourself look "silly."

[AsahinaKimi]

58. hmmm I see...

Thank you for the Etiquette lesson. Enjoy your day too.

Sore wa orokana amerikahito kara de sunappu!!

[Ash_F]

43. FYI...The UN and most all countries do not recognize Jerusalem as the capital.

Even the US, despite Obama's campaign statement, still maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv like most countries. This is not to "deny Israeli's their sovereignty" or whatever nonsense. This is the moderate position on the issue as to not jeopardize the peace process because the city is also sacred to Muslims.

Even moderate Israeli's don't press this subject with other nations but, for some reason, righties in both countries go nuts whenever it is brought up. It is pretty sad considering all the serious problems over there that need attention.



Also I see all the usual right wing trolls showed up for this one. Where were you guys when this atrocity popped up in LBN? Israel gave birth control to Ethiopian Jews without their consent

[AsahinaKimi]

44. Please let him know ...

I am done with him.

[Ash_F]

46. Sometimes it's better just to not feed it.

Though it can be fun sometimes.

[former9thward]

48. You are making stuff up.

Moderate and left Israelis support Jerusalem as the capital. No one has ever disputed it since the founding of the country no matter what party was in power. I know, anybody that disagrees with you is a "right wing troll". That attempt to stop discussion may work with newbies but not me.

[Ash_F]

49. I said they don't press the issue, you are making stuff up

I know reading is hard, but maybe if you post some more hyperbole about "denying Israel's their sovereignty" you can stop the discussion.

PS - As the Left gains ground, Tel Aviv will eventually become the capitol. You know this.

[hack89]

50. It is more than a campaign statement

it part of the 2008 and 2012 Democratic Party platforms.

[Ash_F]

52. Yes he was getting a lot of heat for being "anti-Israeli" at the time

It was really undue, but that's another story. For all practical purposes, the US still treats Tel Aviv as the de facto capital like almost all countries. I imagine this will become less of a heated issue as both countries appear to be moving towards moderation.

[hack89]

47. He is actually defending the Democratic Party platform. nt

[CreekDog]

55. Well that would be a first

[goclark]

42. Wonder what is in that water he drinks

Must be a taste of something that makes him " off message."

[awoke_in_2003]

8. I guess when England's PM comes over...

we can tell him Cheshire is his country's capital.

[krispos42]

9. Just read the Wikipedia articles on Jerusalem

Now my head hurts. I had no idea it was that complicated.

[aquart]

17. You didn't?

[krispos42]

41. No, I decided a long time ago to avoid I/P affairs.

I thought Tel Aviv was the capital, and Jerusalem a very old and religiously-important city that everybody had a claim on.

[elleng]

19. Yes, it is. EVERYTHING over there is 'that complicated!'

[SCVDem]

10. Rubio is an ass

Have al Jazeera run a quick story how foreign policy doesn't come from visiting Senators without portfolio!

He's a tourist as far as I'm concerned, regardless of any bullcrap excuse he made to justify a free trip on our dime.

Since the Republicans do not support President Obama's foreign policy, anything they say I consider undermining American interests abroad.

Must we export stupid?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. mule?

I'd even venture to suggest donkey. But that has been assigned to our side.

Funny, when Obama travels, they get angry for using that as a political move. But when Tea Baggers do it, it is smart international posturing.

[SCVDem]

24. Like John and Lindsey in Iraq! nt

[Paladin]

11. Geography 101, Water Bottle Boy..... (nt)

[former9thward]

27. Where is their capitol?

Since it is Geography 101 this should be easy. Look at a map.

[Comrade Grumpy]

53. Where is the US Embassy in Israel? Hint: Not Jerusalem.

[EC]

12. This guy is so light weight

I just can't believe the repubs will put him up in 16...it will ruin his career - he's just not ready. I'm not sure he will ever be ready...he's like Romney, a cipher.

[another_liberal]

13. Big campaign contribution . . .

And a big campaign contribution from AIPAC is in transit to Florida.

What will our fawningly subservient, utterly venal politicians give them next? Maybe something like the entire West Bank, half of Lebanon, Syria up to the Southern outskirts of Damascus? It appears they need only to ask.

[Enrique]

15. that is the official U.S. policy

Obama might have said the same thing. I'm skeptical that this is as newsworthy as this article suggests.

edit: Obama did say it

[aquart]

16. Oy.

[hack89]

18. So he agrees with the 2008 and 2012 Democratic Party platform

The change, approved in a voice vote that had to be taken three times because of a chorus of noes in the arena, reinstated the line “Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel” in a section that describes Mr. Obama’s policy toward the country. That sentence was in the 2008 platform, but the Democrats removed it this year, saying that they wanted to spotlight other elements of Mr. Obama’s policy and that the platform should reflect a sitting president rather than a candidate for office.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/us/politics/pushed-by-obama-democrats-alter-platform-over-jerusalem.html

Don't see the problem here.

[onehandle]

20. Senator, it's Istanbul (Not Constantinople). Just a need to know.

And like Jerusalem, it's none of your damn business.

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

[elleng]

22. THANKS for a bit of light

and mirth!

[RevStPatrick]

23. Here's my question...

What is the capital of Israel?

[Mosby]

34. Israelis made Jerusalem its capital

But most other countries pretend its Tel Aviv.

[FSogol]

45. Now that this is settled, where is the Capital of Bolivia?

Is it Sucre or La Paz?

[Ash_F]

64. Everyone knows it's La Paz

What are you, some kind of bourgeois?

[Peregrine]

35. The Big J

any anyone that asays differently is fooling him or herself. When you attack a country (twice) and lose territory, it aint yours anymore.

[cpwm17]

36. The winners write the history books

and believe them. The losers know otherwise.

[RevStPatrick]

37. So... the capital of Israel is Jerusalem?

That's what I thought.
That's what it said when I went to Wikipedia.

So... Am I supposed to jump on the bandwagon and call Rubio an ass because he said what everybody already knows? There are so many other reasons to call him an ass. I think I'd rather focus on one of those...

[SCVDem]

38. Yes

Rubios intent is to create trouble for Obama and America!

[dipsydoodle]

56. I must assume your reading

has been selective.

[The Stranger]

54. Except when the country occupying the territory actually launched a preemptive strike,

. . . then you get your land back.

[oberliner]

59. What does this mean?

Unclear.

[cpwm17]

61. Israel started its wars of conquest

[oberliner]

63. 1973 War?

Did you believe that Israel started that one?

[The Stranger]

65. Then you admit Israel started the others.

We're getting somewhere.

[graham4anything]

51. there are a million and one reasons to disagree with Marco Rubio

(btw, for clarity sake, I am Jewish.)

I will stick with the million other reasons.

[Freddie Stubbs]

62. So what? It's the same position as the Democratic Party's platform