By David Singer ——Bio and Archives--December 10, 2017
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"President Trump on Wednesday formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing nearly seven decades of American foreign policy ..."
"Donald Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in reversal of decades of policy"News outlets including Reuters, Financial Times, Iraqinews, Gulfnews, and Today parroted this false claim. America's policy on Jerusalem is actually laid out in "The Jerusalem Embassy Act 1995 (Act)" passed by the Senate (93-5) and the House (374-37) on 24 October 1995--specifically highlighted by Trump when announcing his decision:
"In 1995, Congress adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act, urging the federal government to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize that that city -- and so importantly -- is Israel's capital. This act passed Congress by an overwhelming bipartisan majority and was reaffirmed by a unanimous vote of the Senate only six months ago."The Act unequivocally states:
"SEC. 3. TIMETABLE. (a) Statement of the Policy of the United States.
- Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected.
- Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and
- the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999."
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David Singer is an Australian Lawyer, a Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International—an organization calling for sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza to be allocated between Israel and Jordan as the two successor States to the Mandate for Palestine. Previous articles written by him can be found at: jordanispalestine.blogspot.com