It is rare for a Democrat
these days to attack a Republican colleague from the right on issues relating
to Israel – Schumer was the only Democratic Senator to condemn Trump for his
decision
WASHINGTON – U.S. President
Donald Trump’s
decision on Thursday to sign the waiver postponing the relocation of the U.S.
Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem drew criticism on Capitol Hill, where
Republicans and a leading Democrat expressed disappointment and urged Trump to
re-consider the decision, which breaks his campaign promise made during the
2016 election.
Senate
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released a statement attacking Trump for
failing to follow through on his promise. “As someone who believes that
Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, I am deeply disappointed in
President Trump’s decision,” Schumer declared. “Will those who criticized
President Obama for not moving the Embassy make their voices just as loud and
just as strong when it comes to President Trump’s failure to move the Embassy?”
Schumer was the only Democratic
Senator who condemned Trump for his decision, which won praise from J Street,
the left-wing Jewish organization working to promote a two-state solution. It
is rare for a Democratic politician these days to attack a Republican colleague
from the right on issues relating to Israel. Schumer is known as a strong
supporter of Israel, and was also the most senior Democrat to speak earlier
this year at the annual AIPAC conference.
On the
Republican side, Trump was criticized by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), head of the
House Republican Israel Caucus. “Jerusalem is absolutely where our
embassy belongs. Jerusalem is the unquestionable capital of Israel and should
be fully recognized as such,” Zeldin said in a statement. “In addition to all
of the most sacred religious sites, Jerusalem is also the location of the
Israeli Knesset and offices and residences of the Israeli Prime Minister and
President. I strongly urge the President to reconsider this most recent
announcement. It was a credit to the President’s campaign last year that he
knew and was outspoken for moving the U.S. embassy as the correct path
forward.”
While dozens of Republican
Congressmen have urged Trump to move the embassy in recent months, Zeldin was
the only one to publicly challenge him on the issue on Thursday. It is
expected, however, that in the coming days, more will join. One interesting name to watch will be Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
who has been calling to move the embassy for years, and wrote just two weeks
ago that “it is time for the United States to formally recognize Jerusalem as
the eternal and undivided capital of Israel.”
Another
prominent Republican (although not in any office at the moment) who criticized
the decision was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a strong supporter of
Trump during the last election. Huckabee wrote on his twitter account
that Trump is “1 of 2 on campaign promises,” explaining that while he stood by
his word and pulled the United States out of the Paris agreement, he failed to
move the embassy “to Jerusalem, legitimate capital of Israel.”
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