Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

I really should read my own blog.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

All hail the time of the bunny!

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

The revolution will be supervised.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Roe is not about choice. It is about freedom.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

You are here: Home / Politics / America / The President’s Remarks on the Status of Jerusalem Live Feed

The President’s Remarks on the Status of Jerusalem Live Feed

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Here’s the live feed for the President’s remarks on the status of Jerusalem. What you’re going to want to watch and listen for is how he frames the specific portions on the status of Jerusalem. Does he call it Israel’s undivided capital? Only the capital of Israel? Or just the capital of Israel? In other words is there some nuance in his statement that keeps the final status of Jerusalem viable diplomatically.

Updated at 1:25 PM EST

The President made two very clear statements about both freedom of religion and access to religious sites in Jerusalem. Even more specifically he stated that Muslims must have access to the al Aqsa Mosque and stating that access for Muslims to the Harem al Sharif must be preserved.

My take away from the speech is that he’s going to continue to sign the waivers to keep the US embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv until an embassy can be built in Jerusalem in accordance with the 1995 law that recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He made a very clear statement that beginning the planning for moving the embassy should not infringe on final status issues between the Israelis and Palestinians. This includes the final status of Jerusalem vis a vis the Israelis and Palestinians.

What needs to be understood is that no matter how nice the speech sounded, nor the nuance and clarity I highlighted above, is that the President’s statements and actions on the status of Jerusalem is completely disconnected from the reality on the ground. Despite seeming to reinforce the US policy preference for a two state solution, by changing US policy and embracing the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act he has undercut the US’s preference for a two state solution by preemptively dealing with the issue of Jerusalem.

This decision and the President’s remarks ignore just how fragile the status quo is in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It also ignores the vast minutiae across dozens of categories and sub-categories that have to be negotiated and agreed to before the big ticket items like the final status of Jerusalem can even be considered. Today’s decision places the cart before dozens of horses.

Finally, forget about who started what when. Forget about who did what to whom in the 19th or early 20th Centuries. Right now, today, the Israelis hold all the leverage and power in the relationship with the Palestinians. The Palestinians have three options: 1) acquiesce and remain forever in socio-political and ethno-national limbo, 2) make a good faith effort via a peace negotiation to get the best deal they can get and then live with it as the best that could be gotten, or 3) revolt. The first option is not viable or acceptable. The second only works if the Israeli leadership is willing to make a good faith effort to negotiate a settlement, which the current leadership isn’t. The third is violent self help.

The only things the Palestinians have to trade for a negotiated peace agreement and their own state is an intangible: peace. This isn’t trading land for land or resources for land or even money for land. It is about the Israelis who control the land being willing to give some of it up, as well as the administrative control over it, to the Palestinians in exchange for an intangible concept.

We’re once again back to something akin to Bernard Fall’s remarks about civic action:

Civic action is not the construction of privies or the distribution of anti-malaria sprays. One can’t fight an ideology; one can’t fight a militant doctrine with better privies. Yet this is done constantly. One side says, “land reform,” and the other side says, “better culverts.” One side says, “We are going to kill all those nasty village chiefs and landlords.” The other side says, “Yes, but look, we want to give you prize pigs to improve your strain.” These arguments just do not match. Simple but adequate appeals will have to be found sooner or later.

Simple but adequate appeals indeed…

Reader Interactions

117Comments

  2. 2.

    Doug R

    Ugh. Can’t watch. I’m sure it’ll be terrible pandering racist crap tailored for the godbotherers in Alabama who love someone who bears false witness, worships graven images and covets his neighbor and her womb.

  4. 4.

    это курам на смех

    It pains me that a painting of this clown will forever adorn a wall in the White House.

  6. 6.

    Adam L Silverman

    So the remark about freedom of worship and actually name checking both Muslims and the al Aqsa Mosque as part of the need to guarantee freedom of access for worship was unexpected.

  8. 8.

    Redshift

    In other words is there some nuance in his statement that keeps the final status of Jerusalem viable diplomatically.

    And will anyone believe it is actual nuance either way, or just Trump saying words with no understanding that small differences matter?

    Chances of multiple “what he really meant” statements from staffers, possibly contradictinh each other, is near 100%.

  10. 10.

    Adam L Silverman

    Clear statement of beginning planning for moving the embassy not infringing on final status issues between the Israelis and Palestinians. Including the final status of Jerusalem vis a vis the Israelis and Palestinians. Reinforced US preference for a comprehensive two state solution and freedom of access for different religious groups to worship freely. He also by name mentioned the Harem al Sharif, which is how Muslims and Arabs refer to the Temple Mount.

  14. 14.

    WaterGirl

    @Adam L Silverman: I’m very confused by what you wrote. Not sure if that’s because Trump made no sense and contradicted himself at every turn or if it’s just quick writing that can be explained.

  16. 16.

    d58826

    Very nice speech that would not have been needed if he had left well enough alone. Of course at the end of the day Israel is going to have it’s capital in Jerusalem. But that is part of the end state solution. This puts a very big thumb on the scales in Israel’s favor. IIRC the original UN partition resolution called for Jerusalem to be an open city. As far as Palestinians enjoying freedom of religion in Israel, that would be news to the Palestinians. Now they may enjoy more freedom that Jews in Iran but they are still second class citizens. He called God’s blessing to Christians, Jews and Muslims. I realize it may be a picky point but to Muslims the word is ALLAH. Show a bit of respect.

  17. 17.

    artem1s

    jeebus, I feel sorry for everyone who has to live there and that their lives are going to be impacted by this idiots lack of understanding of how words work. /FFS

  20. 20.

    Calouste

    I don’t care what the shitgibbon is saying. I’ll pay attention to the actions of the major Muslim states though.

  25. 25.

    d58826

    This has to be a big Ramandan present (if such a thing exists) for ISIS, AQ and the rest of the jihadists

  28. 28.

    MisterForkbeard

    @TenguPhule: It’s like being polite while robbing someone – it doesn’t change the action taking place and in almost makes the action itself even more insulting.

  31. 31.

    rikyrah

    This is a bad idea. No, horrific one, to payoff a bunch of evil azz muthaphuckas to need to go to Hell, since they believe in it.

  33. 33.

    The Moar You Know

    Well, at least that fucker Salman now knows what happens when you give Trump the gold carpet treatment: he shits on it like a poorly trained dog.

    General Secretary Xi is up for some carpet-shitting next.

    Maybe these folks should have paid more attention. Do Trump a favor, he shits on your carpet.

    And before anyone asks: there will be violence.

    @Adam L Silverman: I’m expecting that before the sun sets here in CA. Probably in the next hour, if we’re being realistic. This was a “bright red line” for the Arab world and Trump has just shit all over that as well.

  37. 37.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I can’t watch that man speak, especially on such a sensitive topic, but I’m gathering from the snippets I’m seeing around twitter is that the Ape tossed a torch into a pool of gasoline and then stood back and said “this is a pool of gasoline that should be treated with great care, great care….”

  40. 40.

    Adam L Silverman

    Also, the President’s dentures/partial where not in properly hence the slurring of words and clicking sounds as he tried to keep his teeth in his mouth. And he really needs to get his deviated septum fixed too. That would resolve some of the snuffling.

  41. 41.

    Elie

    This ruthless, destructive, evil beast must be removed. It MUST happen. There will be no choice as he truly will stop at nothing and will burn us to the ground. We can sit around and watch but the day is coming that action will be unavoidable despite the damage we will experience from the process. It MUST happen and it is now just a matter of time.

  46. 46.

    TenguPhule

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    but I’m gathering from the snippets I’m seeing around twitter is that the Ape tossed a torch into a pool of gasoline and then stood back and said “this is a pool of gasoline that should be treated with great care, great care….”

    A pool of gas in a fireworks factory over an Indian graveyard.

  49. 49.

    TenguPhule

    @Elie:

    We can sit around and watch but the day is coming that action will be unavoidable despite the damage we will experience from the process. It MUST happen and it is now just a matter of time.

    And when that day comes, the Republicans will accuse half the Democrats of sexual harrassment and the other half will cheerfully shoot them in the back.

  56. 56.

    Elie

    @TenguPhule:

    Man, you never stop do you? What a sicko. You love celebrating the defeat of what those of us who care are working for. Fuck you. You are as evil — maybe more so because you undermine us. Go away

  58. 58.

    d58826

    @dr. bloor: Well that goes without needing to be said. Heck Hillary is responsible for the Pharaoh forcing the Hebrews to make bricks w/o straw.

  59. 59.

    Sab

    OT but I am posting this on every thread I wander across this week.

    The FCC net neutrality vote is next week. It’s biguest opponent is Al Franken. The charges against him are so far pretty weak. Do you you think weak sexism charges against the biggest defender of net neutrality the week before the vote is a coincidence? I don’t, but I am in my sixties, so I wasn’t born yesterday.

  60. 60.

    LanceThruster

    When you’ve fucked up things as badly as Trump has, having the Lobby on your side is probably not a bad idea. Expect some glowing admiration from the fake news. It might be tentative at first, but will at some point characterize it as bold and presidential.

  61. 61.

    Elie

    @Miss Bianca:

    It IS misguided in so many ways!!!! I think these folks mean well but its gonna blow up in our faces because the other side is not going to unitlaterally disarm themselves. If we think being pure about this is gonna help us, we are going to find out differently. Worse yet, it is going to cause problems all the way down the chain because of the widespread nature of these issues. I can tell you it is already roiling us down in the hinterlands so we will be fighting this thing — a perfect misdirection, instead of the beast in the White House and the orks in Congress. This was a good idea that is blowing up in our faces.

  62. 62.

    El Caganer

    @Adam L Silverman: It takes the best deal-maker to create a lose-lose situation: the Palestinians get doodly-squat, the Israelis get a major security problem they don’t need. Bigly; very classy; only the best….oh, fuck it, I can’t even make fun of this shit.

  65. 65.

    d58826

    well there is some ‘good’ news. The wildfires in CA have burned down Rupert Murdoch’s house. snarky

  66. 66.

    Miss Bianca

    @Elie: What you said, far more eloquently than I. I’m at the point where all I feel like doing is swearing and breaking things, and saying “a plague on both your houses!” and withdrawing in high dudgeon. Which, of course, won’t help a damn thing, so I won’t really..

    But Jesus Chicken-Fried Christ…the Democratic Party really IS Charlie Brown with the football right now. I keep trying to tell myself we’ll change, and learn to keep a laser-like focus on TWO facts simultaneously: that the GOP is a party of traitors, and we need all hands on deck to fight them, AND that they are merciless rat-fuckers who will always, and gleefully, weaponize our own virtue-signalling against us. Apparently, we can’t be bothered.

  67. 67.

    TenguPhule

    @Elie: Fuck off. I’m watching our side turn on one of our best and brightest because they’ve learned NOTHING from the 2016 ratfucks.

  68. 68.

    d58826

    so much winning. According to Amb. Ryan Crocker Der Fuhrer has achieved a huge ‘success’ in uniting Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordon to oppose this policy.

  69. 69.

    TenguPhule

    @Sab:

    Do you you think weak sexism charges against the biggest defender of net neutrality the week before the vote is a coincidence?

    I believe the third time indicates enemy action.

  71. 71.

    Elie

    @TenguPhule:

    Oh stop it. YOU LOVE IT!! Makes you happy as can be. You wished failure on us and celebrate it endlessly… Stop the lying. This shit is right up your alley

  73. 73.

    Elie

    @TenguPhule:

    I am beginning to have to agree with you there…. “enemy action”.

    I want to DO something though — not just whine and point like you do.

  76. 76.

    Ms. D. Ranged in AZ

    IMHO I’m not sure the Palestinians can deliver peace because there are internal and external extreme factions that would stir up trouble. Sounds like they don’t have any options….which is incredibly sad and horrible.

  77. 77.

    TenguPhule

    @Elie:

    I want to DO something though

    There isn’t anything you can do at this point. We all get to find out tomorrow.

    All we had to do was stick together. And 6 braying morons in the Senate couldn’t even do that. And there are going to be consequences for that.

    Wanting and being able to are two very different things.

  80. 80.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sab:

    Do you you think weak sexism charges against the biggest defender of net neutrality the week before the vote is a coincidence?

    Nope, but sadly we seem to be in the minority on that.

  81. 81.

    MomSense

    I only caught the end but it sounded like he slurred “United States of America”. Did he slur other words in the speech?

  85. 85.

    eemom

    @Adam L Silverman:

    He snuffled nonstop in the debates with Hillz. The consensus among former coke addicts was that he’s a coke addict, which seemed sort of shocking at the time. At this point though, what difference does it make?

  88. 88.

    The Moar You Know

    The consensus among former coke addicts was that he’s a coke addict, which seemed sort of shocking at the time.

    @eemom: First: I am not a former coke addict. I did work with a lot of them, was a working musician in the eighties. Trump, as much as I would like to smear him with this, I’m pretty sure is not a former cokehead. And definitely not a current one. There’s just something the cokeheads have that he doesn’t. Really can’t define it, I’ll work on that.

  91. 91.

    Immanentize

    @d58826: So Erdogan said that “if ____ happened, Turkey would end diplomatic relations with Israel.” Was that ____?: “US declares Jerusalem the capital of Israel?” (just happened) or “US moves its embassy to Jerusalem?” (hasn’t happened yet). I think it was the former?

    ETA This was also for Adam…. @Adam L Silverman:

  93. 93.

    Adam L Silverman

    @MomSense: @eemom:

    And

  100. 100.

    MomSense

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Damn, I have two friends (four if you count spouses) who are going to be caught up in this. I don’t think they wanted to leave as their kids are here in university. This is going to get so ugly.

  109. 109.

    WaterGirl

    @Adam L Silverman: Good for him. Sadly, we lost all credibility with this utterly insane move by Trump. We really should have no role in the peace process at this point.

    I should add, what peace process? (after this move)

  110. 110.

    d58826

    Listening to the various Israeli spokespersons on the move of the embassy. Poor Poor Israel. No one understands them. No one realizes how much they are willing to sacrifice for the Palestinians. And the Palestinians are just so ungrateful and, with great sadness evil.

  112. 112.

    OGLiberal

    And none of this had anything to do with Jews or even Israel. It’s about keeping the un-Christian fundies in the US lapping up his bullshit. You know, the folks who need an official Jewish state so JC can come back, after which the Jews will have to accept him as lord and savior or burn in eternal hell.

  114. 114.

    CDWard

    Israel:

    – is an oppressive, colonialist, expansionist and supremacist Jewish State;

    – has been stealing, occupying and colonizing Palestinian land and
    oppressing, torturing and killing Palestinians for over 60 years;

    – refuses to honor its obligations under international law;

    – refuses to accept responsibility and accountability for its past and on-going war crimes; and

    – refuses to enter into sincere negotiations for a just and mutually-beneficial peace.

    See http://www.ifamericansknew.org and http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/photos/maps/landloss.html for more information.

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