US embassy officially opened in Jerusalem, Palestinians protest
The US Embassy in Israel is now officially in Jerusalem. The daughter of US President Ivanka Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 14 May officially opened a diplomatic mission.
“On behalf of the 45th President of the United States, we officially welcome you for the first time to the United States Embassy here in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel,” Ivanka Trump said during the opening ceremony, reports Fox News.
Trump was unable to attend the ceremony, but sent a congratulatory video message to Jerusalem.
“Exactly 70 years ago, the United States, under President Harry Truman, became the first country to recognize the State of Israel. Today we officially open the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Congratulations! It took a long time. Almost immediately after gaining statehood in 1948, Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital, the capital that the Jewish people founded in ancient times. Today, the Israeli parliament sits in Jerusalem, where Israeli laws are adopted, the Supreme Court of Israel operates, and the residences of the government and the president of the country are located there. Israel is a sovereign state with the right, like any other sovereign state, to determine its own capital. Yet for many years we failed to recognize the obvious, the simple reality that the capital of Israel is Jerusalem.
6 December 2017, under my administration, the United States finally officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Following this decision, today we are opening our embassy in the historic and holy land of Jerusalem.
Our greatest hope is that it will help establish peace. The United States remains fully committed to international agreements and we fully support the status quo regarding the holy sites of Jerusalem, including the Holy Mountain.
This city and this country are a symbol of the fortitude of the Jewish people. The United States will always be Israel's friend and partner in the fight for freedom and peace.
We wish Ambassador Friedman the best of luck in his new office at the beautiful Embassy in Jerusalem and extend a hand of friendship to Israel, Palestine and all their neighbors. Let there be peace! God bless this embassy and everyone who works there. And God bless the USA!”
Those present at the ceremony stood applauding the speeches of the American president.
During his speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked those present, and also said that Israel has no better friend in the world than the United States.
“Many friends came here today from all over the world, many friends prayed for this day and worked to bring it closer - thank you all! I would especially like to welcome Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Your presence here today demonstrates the importance of this event not only to the Trump administration, but to each of you, to the world and to President Trump personally.
Dear friends, what a solemn day! Remember this moment! This is history! President Trump, recognizing historical justice, you have gone down in history. We are all deeply touched and grateful. Staying here brings back memories of my childhood; I spent the first three years of my life here nearby. My brother and I came here where I am standing now, but never further, because my mother ordered us never to go further, there was a border here and snipers could open fire. That was then, and look what is happening now - the embassy of the most powerful power on Earth, our ally, the United States of America, opens today on this site. What a huge difference between what was then and what is now.
For me, this place carries personal memories, but for our people it evokes collective memories of the brightest moments that we experienced in this city.
Jerusalem historically has the right to be the father of our people. In Jerusalem, 3000 years ago, David established our capital, and King Solomon built our temple, which has survived many centuries. In Jerusalem, the Jews who left Babylon rebuilt this temple, which stood for even more centuries. And 2000 years later, here in Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers proclaimed the important words “The Temple Mount is in our hands.” These words inspired the whole people. We are in Jerusalem and we will stay here. In Jerusalem we are under the protection of the brave soldiers of the Israeli army. We praise and thank the representatives of our army and military organizations!
We are here today to celebrate another historic day in the life of this city, which replaced the place in the list of memorable decisions in the history of our people.
More than a hundred years ago, the Balfour Declaration recognized the right of the Israelis to this land. And exactly 70 years ago, President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel. Last December, President Trump became the first world leader to recognize Jerusalem as our capital. And today, the US is opening its embassy here in Jerusalem. Thank you, President Trump, for having the courage to keep your promise.
Friends, this is a great day for Israel, a great day for America, and a great day for our partnership. But I believe this is also a great day on the path to peace. Peace and truth are inseparable. A world that is built on lies will break on the rocks of Middle Eastern reality. Peace can only be built on truth. And the truth is that Jerusalem has been and will always be the capital of the Israeli people and the State of Israel.”
In Jerusalem, 7 may already have been road signs with the inscription "US Embassy" in three languages: English, Arabic and Hebrew. The area in front of the embassy plan rename in honor of Donald Trump.
In addition, the Israeli football club "Beitar Jerusalem" changed its name in honor of the US President, writes Rtvi.
Now the club will be called “Beitar Trump Jerusalem”. So the management team thanked the American president for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The club believes that Trump acted bravely and "showed love for the Israelis and their capital."
Protests
In parallel with the opening ceremony, armed protests involving about 12 thousands of Palestinians took place on the 35 sections of the Israeli border with Gaza, reports RIA News.
The Israeli military counted over 35 thousands of rioters in the 12 sections of the border. They hurl improvised explosive devices and incendiary bottles at frontier guards, burn tires, try to break down border obstacles. In response, the soldiers use special means and shoot to kill at the most aggressive protesters, the scale and severity of which increased markedly in the wake of outrage at the opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem.
Fearing that whole crowds would go for a breakthrough, the Israeli army pulled two additional infantry brigades to the Gaza Strip, another one was transferred to the West Bank, which so far remained outside of the protests.
As a result of clashes between rioters and the Israeli military, at least 41 was killed by a Palestinian, more than 1,7 thousands were injured.
Israel called on residents of border regions not to approach the border with Gaza because of protests and risk to life.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the death of a large number of people at the borders of Gaza.
“New conflicts arise, and old ones do not disappear. In particular, I am disturbed by reports from Gaza, where many people have been killed, ”Guterres said at a press conference in Vienna.
At the same time, representatives of the Turkish authorities noted that the United States is responsible for the growing number of victims at the Gaza border.
“The relocation to Jerusalem of the US embassy in Israel will increase instability, crisis and conflicts in the region. The United States is equally responsible for the massacres in Gaza, as is the Israeli government. Regardless of what steps the United States and Israel will take, Turkey will not recognize them, ”Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag wrote in a microblog. Twitter.
Recall, March 30-31 extremist organization Hamas organized a rally on the Gaza border with Israel under the title "March of Return", which was attended by about 40 thousands of Palestinians. Despite the fact that it was announced as a peaceful protest, the event was marked by constant clashes of protesters with the Israeli police.
Hamas holds speeches on the border with Israel for a month and a half, with the planned climax of May 14, when the US opens an embassy in Jerusalem, and Israel celebrates the 70 anniversary of statehood.
The aggression and the number of protesters really increased on this day due to dissatisfaction with the transfer of the American embassy. In total, about 100 Palestinians, including victims of 14 protests in May, were killed in clashes with the military and police during the rally.
6 December 2017, President of the United States Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and called on the State Department to begin the process of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, opening of the embassy in this city they decided to coincide with the 70 anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel.
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