Skip to main content
Representative Tom Cole logo

A First Step Toward Peace

December 11, 2017
Weekly Columns
Regarded as a sacred city to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, the ancient city of Jerusalem as been at the center of dispute between Palestine and Israel for decades. And for many years, U.S. Presidents have attempted to engage and negotiate peace talks between Israel and Palestine in hopes that it would help set firm boundaries and a final two-state solution.
Every president in recent history has campaigned on a pledge to officially recognize Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Yet none of them has followed through and actually done so. But last week President Trump delivered on his promise and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The city of Jerusalem is home to many religious sites of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam - and millions of people hold these sites sacred. Since 1948, both Palestine and Israel have claimed Jerusalem to be the capital of their respective states. These conflicting claims have incited many acts of violence throughout the years. In 1995, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the seat of its government. Although this sent an important message at the time, no previous administration has actually recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Israel is the most powerful, democratic ally of the United States in the Middle East. It has served as the catalyst of democracy in the region. As a democratic and sovereign nation, it has and should have every right to name its capital. The majority of Israel's government institutions – from the Knesset to the Supreme Court and the office of the Prime Minister – are located in Jerusalem. It should be fundamentally understood that Israel should be able to claim Jerusalem as its rightful capital.
President Trump's was careful to point out that the geo-political boundaries of Jerusalem should be negotiated and agreed upon by Israel and Palestine. In addition to formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Administration also plans to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the future. However, the President was careful to keep open the possibility that Jerusalem might also serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The idea of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital has had bipartisan support for many years. Many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle strongly expressed their support for President Trump's decision. United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has also been a leader in voicing America's position on Jerusalem on the international stage to garner support from other nations. In the coming weeks and years, the United States will play an integral role in the process for peace between Palestine and Israel. However, by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the United States has sent a powerful message of our alliance and friendship with the Jewish state.