British Prime Minister Liz Truss has expressed willingness the move British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
It is amazing to observe how Israeli authorities ally themselves with poor, divisive, or even totalitarian foreign governments in an effort to improve Israel’s image on the world arena. In the past, we have observed Benjamin Netanyahu pursuing tight ties with leaders such as Donald Trump in Washington, Viktor Orban in Budapest, and the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro.
Today, we observer Yair Lapid’s interest in his “close buddy,” the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss. In September, Lapid congratulated “his excellent” buddy Truss for “positively contemplating transferring the British Embassy to Jerusalem” on the margins of the UNGA.
The British Prime Minister had pledged to examine a transfer to Jerusalem. Truss’ pledge was made in a message to the Conservative Allies of Israel parliamentary party during her Conservative leadership campaign. she now appears to be making true on that commitment. In a speech at a function hosted in a Conservative convention in Birmingham, the PM announced that she is “a huge Zionist” and a big friend of Israel.
The chairman of the Board of Deputies of British Jews has already endorsed the relocation of the embassy. The move is supported by pro-Israel organisations in the country.
It appears that property in West Jerusalem has also been designated for the relocation of the embassy. It goes without saying that the Israeli administration and its allies are overjoyed, just as they had been when former US president announced his intention to transfer the American diplomatic center to Jerusalem in December 2017.
According to Maggie Haberman, the New York Times writer, American businessman Sheldon Adelson pushed for that commitment. Adelson funded Trump’s presidential campaign with $20 million.
Embassy Relocation; Against All but Israel
It’s interesting to note that when Trump announced his decision five years ago, UK then-Prime Minister, a conservative, joined many other nations in denouncing his choice.
Today, it is obvious what would happen to Palestinians if UK moved its embassy to Jerusalem. This will be a further move against international conventions and UN decisions by a Western state. These regulations have underlined that East Jerusalem is a Palestinian region under occupation.
Israel maintains ignoring the Palestinians’ claims to their territory and the freedom to decide for themselves.
A step by London, like Trump’s, would have a disruptive impact on Palestinian issue. It would significantly erode the Palestinian Authority’s credibility as a government charged with implementing the “two-state solution”, as observed by the Oslo Accords, to the challenge in Palestinian lands.
A Palestinian government, as agreed in the agreements, is now untenable due to acknowledgment of Israel’s unlawful proclamation of occupied Jerusalem as its capital by nations like the United States and, now, possibly the United Kingdom. That might make the PA a subject to public resentment even more easily by its local rivals.
Moving the British embassy to Jerusalem would not end Palestinian resistance. Years of British and other Western assistance for Israel didn’t end the Palestinian cause; one more unlawful act would not end it.
Consequences of this action for the UK may not be as evident. The nation is not there to benefit from abandoning its long-standing stance on Jerusalem. Only a small portion of the British Zionist lobby and the Israeli government are satisfied. According to some Arab officials, the policy may even endanger a free trade agreement with the GCC.
The action would further the nation’s support for colonization and solidify its place on a front lacking the truth.
