US Presidential Candidate Leaks Biden Government Attitude Towards Jerusalem

Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - There have been leaks regarding the questions of many people about the attitude of the United States (US) under Joe Biden to the dispute over the Jerusalem area between Palestine and Israel. Antony Blinken leaked the US will continue to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

This was conveyed by Blinken to the senators in the middle of the confirmation hearing. Blinken, in the next Biden administration, it is confirmed that he will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Blinken ensured the US would also maintain an embassy in Jerusalem.

To quote CNN, Wednesday, January 20, when asked whether he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Blinken replied, "yes." When asked if the US Embassy would remain in Jerusalem, Blinken replied, "yes."

Both steps were highly controversial during the Trump administration because Israel and Palestine both claim the Holy City as their capital. The status of Jerusalem is such a delicate issue that international consensus abandons discussion of it at the end of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Previous peace negotiations have included the idea that each side would claim a different part of the city as its capital. The Trump administration abandoned those internationally accepted parameters, ceasing to engage with Palestine.

They unilaterally moved their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized the city as the capital of Israel. At a hearing held on Tuesday, January 19, Blinken indicated he understands the Trump administration's policies have pushed Israel and Palestine further away from a peace deal than it has done in decades.

Blinken stressed that he believes that "a two-state solution, however remote it may seem, is still the best and perhaps the only way to truly guarantee Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state and of course to give Palestinians the state they are entitled to."

"The challenge, of course, is how to proceed at a time ... it seems more distant than ever, at least since Oslo," said Blinken. He paid tribute to the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreement brokered by the Trump administration between Israel and the Gulf states. Blinken said he hoped the agreement would create progress towards an Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

"I hope it can also create more confidence and security in Israel as it considers its relationship with Palestine," Blinken said.

Blinken also said he opposed the campaign to pressure Israel through boycotts. This has put him at odds with some on the left of the Democratic Party.

Israel has approved the construction of nearly 800 houses in West Bank settlements. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied that Israeli settlements were illegal. Previously he visited one of the settlements in November 2020 when he visited the West Bank.

The Palestinian leadership boycotted Trump, saying the move to recognize Jerusalem and other decisions in Israel's favor was biased. In an effort led by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump has instead focused Middle East efforts on winning Arab recognition of Israel.

As many as four countries agreed to normalize relations with Israel since September, namely the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.