Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill

Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill

Foreign policy leaders gathered with dignitaries from Israel on June 4 in Washington, D.C., to speak on Jerusalem Day. It highlights one of the most volatile and intractable geopolitical issues America faces, concerning a city and nation that are sacred to tens of millions of Americans.

Ambassador Ken Blackwell, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, outlined the three general approaches stakeholders debate regarding Jerusalem.

The first is partition. Jerusalem could be officially divided, with Jewish control over one part and Arab/Palestinian control over the other part.

The second is internationalization. Jerusalem could be designated an international city, under the supervision of the United Nations.

The third is affirming a united Jerusalem as the capital city of a unified Israel. Jerusalem was historically the capital city of Israel in ancient times, though currently Tel Aviv is regarded as Israel’s capital by most, and the United States currently has its embassy in Tel Aviv.

Joining Blackwell at the podium was Dov Lipman, a member of the Knesset (Israel’s parliamentary body). Blackwell and Dean Mat Staver of Liberty University School of Law met with Lipman at the Knesset in Jerusalem last month, discussing matters of national security and Israel-U.S. relations.

Staver–who superintends educational programs for Liberty University in Israel and works with top Israeli leaders (including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu)–tells Breitbart News: “America’s history and heritage is inextricably connected to Israel and the Jewish people. We share common values and face common threats. Israel is our greatest and most trusted ally. We will always stand with Israel.”

The event was supported by the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. The co-chairmans of that caucus are bipartisan, consisting of Republican Reps. Trent Franks (AZ) and Doug Lamborn (CO) and Democratic Reps. Eliot Engel (NY) and Brad Sherman (CA).

Lipman was originally born an American citizen, and lived in Maryland. An ordained rabbi, Lipman is the first American-born member serving in the Israeli legislature in almost three decades, and is also a member of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, making him an ideal interlocutor between Israel and the United States.

As Blackwell–who has received formal state honors by the nation of Israel–explained the three approaches to how the world should deal with Jerusalem:

“Partition is the Solomon approach, where King Solomon proposed dividing a baby between the two women claiming to be his mother. [Solomon did this to gauge by the women’s reaction which one was the child’s actual mother.] It’s an appealing solution for those who care more about clearing the court docket than focusing on the welfare of the child.

“Internationalizing Jerusalem has only superficial appeal. Instead of cutting the baby in two, it’s like putting it into foster care. What concerns me about that approach is I have no evidence that the UN understands the first thing about childcare.

“So that leaves only the option of a united Jerusalem under the undisputed sovereignty of one nation. That nation is Israel, and it’s the natural parent, who you know is going to love and care for that child.”

It’s clear where this gathering stands on the issue. Jerusalem Day highlighted these and other issues for policymakers and the public, as millions of Americans continue to “pray for the peace of [a united] Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:6).

Breitbart News legal columnist Ken Klukowski is on faculty at Liberty University School of Law.  

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