By Shira Sorko-Ram, Maoz—
This should be rather simple.
What is a capital?
Answer: It is a city in a country where the government is situated, including official residences of its president or prime minister, its Supreme Court and its legislative branches.
What’s so hard about that? Really, nothing.
In this world of chaos, believe it or not, there are 124 nations which actually have border disputes, and some are occupying disputed territory. Yet 123 have chosen their own capital without any question from the rest of the world. Only Israel doesn’t have a capital—that is, a capital recognized by the world.
Its appointed capital, Jerusalem, also has leaders, officials, administrators, politicians, advisors, lawyers, lobbyists, Knesset committees, policy-makers, buildings, offices and even window-washers, fully functioning with regular work hours.
But for the world, this place does not exist. So, ambassadors appointed to serve in Israel dutifully rent a place to live and open their embassy offices in Tel Aviv. If they want to meet with Israeli officials, then their drivers gas up and take their occupants up to Jerusalem. When meetings end, the driver picks up his boss for a two-hour drive in heavy traffic, back to his home in a Tel Aviv suburb.
So, why this game of make-believe?
Only one explanation: This is a spiritual war.
The “why” is so clear. The world is in a battle between good and evil. Between the Bible and the Koran. Between the God of Israel and the god of this world.
The strategy of Satan has always been to replace God. And the number one place to do it is in Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah foretold that “when the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land…” it is at this time that Satan, together with his followers, will raise himself up against God, only to be ultimately defeated. Isaiah 14:14-16 reads:
“I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the congregation… I will make myself like the Most High.”
When Yeshua the Messiah descends on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and His Jewish people say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!” it will be all over.
Having many God-fearing members, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly voted in 1995 that the United States acknowledge Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. Bill Clinton was president at the time. Even though he had previously said he would support Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, he didn’t like the new law at all, and actually never signed it. Obviously embarrassed to veto it in a nation with many Bible believers, he just let it become law by default to show his disapproval.
In the 2000 election campaign, George W. Bush clearly promised to move the embassy and attacked Clinton for failing to deliver on his promise. But Bush did not keep his promise either.
THE UN DOESN’T GET IT
The war of Islam against Israel is not about the division of land. It is a war for the extermination of Israel, and Jerusalem is central to its strategy.
The god of this world, who certainly dominates the United Nations, has allied itself, almost from day one, with the Palestinian cause. With its millions and billions of dollars it spends annually, it literally spews out propaganda against Israel and is busy educating the world with a new history about Palestinians living in Palestine for thousands of years. Truly fake history. Without a doubt, the god of this world has worked incessantly to make sure the ancient city of Jerusalem never becomes the accepted capital of Israel.
The UN completely ignores the fact that wherever there is Muslim rule, there is no freedom of religion—or even normal human rights. During the fourteen years “moderate” Jordan ruled East Jerusalem, no Jew could come to the Western Wall to pray. In fact, no Israelis could enter Judea and Samaria and their ancient capital city. In fact, Jordan utterly destroyed the synagogues and Jewish institutions in Jerusalem where Jews had lived for many centuries.
STRATEGY
And so Israel has been, in the eyes of the world, without a capital. Until Trump. From Israel’s viewpoint, President Trump’s strategy in presenting his decision was prudent and reasoned. He didn’t use the words “undivided Jerusalem,” a term that would automatically generate rage among Palestinians. He didn’t have to. He understands, as Europeans don’t, that Israel will never accept a divided Jerusalem again. Nor will they hand over the Western Wall or the Temple Mount where the Holy of Holies once stood. Do you recall that recently the UN gave the Western Wall and the Temple Mount to the non-existent nation of Palestinians?
Neither did Trump mention anything about the borders of Jerusalem. And he said he would accept a two-state solution, if both sides agreed. (Sure.) Nevertheless, to do his part, he has sent his son-in-law on a mission to make the ultimate deal. Hopefully they both understand it is a hopeless assignment.
A recent article by Barry Shaw was titled, “Why Jared Kushner is on a fool’s mission.” To turn a dysfunctional, corrupt, rejectionist, ideological, violent Palestinian political divide into a peace-loving nation is beyond the pale. The establishment of a dysfunctional Palestinian state would soon be annexed by Hamas—the terrorist organization created for one single reason—to eradicate Israel. That is not a panacea for peace. We pray that the Trump family totally gets it.
As for Israel, the government has spent years making sure Jerusalem will remain a united city. It has filled both west and east parts of the city with government buildings, industry and housing, not to speak of nearly 600,000 Jewish Israelis—making it impossible to separate. On the other hand, Allah will never give up his claim to “ascend on high.”
Anyone who has picked up a Bible or a history book on the Middle East would find that the rightful owner of Jerusalem is the ancient people of Israel. It is God’s city. The Holy of Holies is the center of Jewish passion and heritage. For Christians who love the Bible and the Jewish people, much of the New Testament takes place in Jerusalem—including the death and resurrection of Yeshua. President Trump is on the right side of history.