Jewish Studies Scholars Reject Jerusalem Recognition?

They have mendaciously expressed “dismay at the Trump administration's decision to reverse decades of bipartisan U.S. policy by declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel.” They ignore the fact that a bipartisan Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995, an act that was overwhelmingly adopted by the Senate (93-5) and by the House (374-37).

How can these so-called Jewish Studies scholars fail to understand or acknowledge the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish life? Have they ever cracked open a Jewish prayer book or studied Talmud? By rejecting a recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel they display a lack of understanding regarding one of the most elementary elements of Jewish policy and belief, yet they hold themselves up as Jewish Studies scholars. Their views hopefully do not formally reflect the curriculum of Jewish Studies.

They declare in their statement: “We hope one day to see a world in which all inhabitants of the land enjoy equal access to the city's cultural and material resources.” This is a dangerous and vicious statement against the State of Israel which ensures Muslims and Christians access to their respective holy sites in Jerusalem. When Jerusalem was occupied by Jordan, 1949-1967, Jews were forbidden from praying at the Western Wall. Regarding resources, Jerusalem’s Muslims and Christians are generally more prosperous and have more access to opportunity than do their counterparts in most other cities in the Middle East.

The statement goes on to regurgitate various half-truths and lies as told by pro-Palestinian Arab groups, thus further establishing where their sympathies reside in the Israel-Palestine conflict. And this is taking place as missiles intended to kill Jews are being fired into Israel from Gaza.

What motivates these scholars besides their obvious leftist worldview? I would suggest that they are driven by a poisonous and warped hatred of President Donald J. Trump, the most pro-Israel president since Harry S. Truman. If Hillary Clinton had been elected president, and if she had signed into law the same congressional bill recognizing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel, not that she would have been inclined to do so, Jews probably would have danced the hora in front of their synagogues. We would have seen endless editorials crowing about her “courage” and how “enlightened” she is for supporting Israel.

When Israel united Jerusalem in 1967, after the Six-Day War, the Israelis made clear at that time that the city would never be divided again. This does not therefore mean that the Palestinians might not achieve some sort of an administrative condominium within the city limits as part of an autonomous entity. In that context, President Trump intends to offer peace proposals early next year. History, however, indicates that the Arabs, in their intransience, have consistently failed to take advantage of the many opportunities offered them for peaceful co-existence going back to the early part of the 20^th Century.

At least Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had the courage to stand up for President Trump’s genuinely courageous act of recognizing Jerusalem. After all, Schumer voted in favor of the Jerusalem Embassy Act back in 1995 and, unlike certain other members of Congress who also voted for the act but who have now reversed themselves by condemning President Trump, he has stood by his convictions. He apparently actually meant it when he voted for the act in 1995. Hopefully he’s not getting too much hate mail from his fellow liberal Jewish constituents.

Chuck Morse is a radio host who broadcasts live Thursday's at 10 a.m. ET at WMFO-Tufts. Chuck hosts the podcast "Chuck Morse Speaks" on iTunes and Stitcher and his books are available on Amazon.com. For more of his reports — Click Here Now.