SYMBOLISM OF JERUSALEM

Yet another escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict was absolutely predictable. However, neither the sides of the conflict nor the international community did anything to prevent bloodshed. Rather, it was the other way round. In fact, the existing situation stalls the efforts to settle the Middle East problem.

The clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, when Hamas mobilised thousands of Palestinians for the March of Return campaign, began at the end of March, albeit the event was covered weakly in the world media. The situation reached its boiling point on May 14, just before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, when the Palestinians observe the Nakba, Day of the Catastrophe, to commemorate the events following the displacement of about 700 thousand Arabs from the territories that later became Israeli as a result of the Arab-Israeli war of 1947-1949 . Tensions have greatly increased because of the transfer of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem scheduled for the same day.

Riots broke out in Bethlehem and Ramallah in the West Bank, but most of all at the border of the Gaza Strip. Thousands of people (according to some sources, up to 35,000) started burning tires, throwing the Molotov cocktails and other improvised explosive devices, and stones trying to break through the border fence that separates Gaza from Israel. In response, IDF soldiers used tear gas and live ammunition. According to the statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, over 12,000 Palestinians were injured and 87 people were killed, including 12 children, since March 30. On May 14, more than 60 Palestinians were killed, including six children. The recent escalation of the conflict has been the largest since 2014. The representative of the Palestinian Autonomy, Yousef al-Mahmud, accused the Israeli authorities of the "monstrous slaughter" and requested support of the international community.

Turkey and South Africa withdrew their ambassadors from Israel. In Belgium and Ireland, Israeli diplomats were asked to report about the situation to local governments. As always, Turkey’s reaction was the most emphatic, for it withdrew its ambassadors from the U.S. and Israel. The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that "the greatest crime against humanity is committed in Palestine." Erdogan also accused the U.S. of aiding to Israel. In general, the international community has reacted in a traditional way by expressing moderate criticism of Israel, and a reminder to Palestinians to keep the demonstrations peaceful. At the same time, both sides were called upon to exercise utmost restraint. "Palestinians have the right to protest but these protests must be peaceful. Israel has the right to defend its borders but the use of live fire is deeply troubling," said British Prime Minister Theresa May. Germany, France, and the EU High Representative have made similar statements as well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the actions of his military as "self-defence against the radical Hamas group that controls Gaza and aims to destroy Israel." Moreover, he mentioned that the IDF had distributed early warnings such as leaflets, and appeals through the media and social networks. Israelis accuse the Palestinian authorities of instigating terrorism and underline that there were well-known militants among the killed Arabs. Also, Israel claims that the Gaza Strip authorities use women and children as "human shields" and "cannon fodder".

In other words, Israel considers the operation as an effort to prevent a concrete threat of the border breakthrough. Tel Aviv is not afraid of mass protests and the Third Intifada, as Palestinians do not have a single territory and leader. Fatah has long been ruling in the West Bank, while Hamas is controlling the Gaza sector. But both organisations do not get along well. People live much better in the West Bank than in the isolated Gaza, which is constantly experiencing a shortage of water, food, electricity, and it is unlikely that they will massively support their counterparts in Gaza. On the other hand, Palestinians do not have influential and determined allies among the Arab states either.

It is therefore surprising that the U.S. decided to move its embassy to Jerusalem now. It is well known that the status of this ancient city is one of the main controversial issues that prevent peaceful settlement. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. Therefore, they consider the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel a "powerful blow to the cause of the liberation of Palestine." But does the Trump administration really want to press on Palestinian leaders before the negotiations on terms beneficial to Israel?

The opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was one of Donald Trump's pre-election promises. On December 6, 2017, the U.S. president announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and on May 14, a solemn ceremony was held in which the daughter of Trump Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, one of the leaders of the Jewish community in the United States, participated on behalf of the White House. "A great day is for Jerusalem, for the State of Israel. The historical moment. We are all very grateful to you," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Donald Tramp. Kushner stated the following: "moving our embassy is not a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace deal; rather it is a necessary condition for it." The prevailing view in Israel is that Jerusalem cannot be divided, and Kushner's words thus mean that the Jewish side will try to exclude the issue of Jerusalem’s status from the peace talks. According to Israeli media, the American embassy is the only one in Jerusalem now, but Guatemala and Paraguay will follow the same path in May. It is also expected that three more states will transfer their embassies to Jerusalem by the end of 2018. So, it seems that the Jewish dream gradually becomes true. Will the Palestinians take it for granted?

On the other hand, it is possible that Trump simply wants to dispose of the legacy of his predecessor Barack Obama, when the U.S.-Israeli relations were not good enough. Or maybe Washington tries to take the lead in a well-known "Trumpian manner"… If true, this could also explain the reason behind too categorical and sometimes almost illogical decisions of the Trump administration regarding North Korea and Iran. It is not surprising that the closest allies of the White House, including Great Britain, did not support the transfer of the embassy. Some European countries, such as Sweden, directly accused the U.S. of being responsible for the violence between Palestinians and Israelis, according to the interview of Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström with the Swedish news agency TT. Washington was reminded that the issue of Jerusalem should not be resolved unilaterally, but on the basis of agreement between the sides of the conflict.

Either way, whatever are the reasons, the transfer of the embassy was yet another factor that deteriorated the situation in this difficult region. If the idea was to take the Palestinians back to the negotiation process, there is a risk that the latter skids to a halt and the status of Jerusalem intensifies the conflict and becomes a symbol of the collapse of modern diplomacy. Given the sacred symbolism of this city, then the prospect of the settlement seems even less optimistic.