President Donald Trump has made it known that he has some interest in moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the holy city of Jerusalem. The simple mention of the idea sent left into an uproar, as CBS Evening News on Tuesday demonstrated. “That would essentially be U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital,” fretted anchor Scott Pelley, “Palestinian leaders also claim the holy city, and they warn that the embassy switch would be an act of war.”
CBS’s Seth Doane was on the ground in Israel where he interviewed advocates on both sides of the issue, but it was clear he was opposed to the move.
“That could easily become the embassy. All you need to do is change the plaque,” the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, joked with Doane. “Barkat knows it's not that easy but sees the move as cementing Israel's long-standing claim on Jerusalem,” reported a solemn sounding Doane, “But the Palestinians also claim the city as their capital and fear the move would spark violence.”
“This is an earthquake. This is not just moving an embassy. It’s an earthquake,” exclaimed Senior Palestinian Advisor Husam Zomlot. Doane backed him up noting, “Moving the U.S. Embassy would greatly reduce the chances for peace.”
The CBS reporter seemed to insinuate that the mayor wanted to invite violence into his city when he ridiculously asked, “Aren't you concerned that this could hurt the peace process, that this could spark violence?”
The addition of parroting the liberal talking point claiming Israeli settlements are “illegal” shows that Doane was reporting from the perspective that Israel is the obstacle to peace in the region, not the group who elected a terrorist organization to be in charge.
Barkat waved away the reporter’s question, stating, “We would not have a state if we were deterred and concerned about threats we, unfortunately, receive every once in a while.”
Closing out his report, Doane added that “White House spokesman Sean Spicer said today that President Trump would like to grow closer with Israel.” He then seemed to suggest that Israel was looking to exploit the relationship, chiding, “That’s a pledge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would like to capitalize on.”
CBS and the other Big Three networks failed to report that the outgoing Barack Obama administration secretly distributed $221 million in taxpayer’s money to the Palestinian Authority. The transfer occurred during the last few hours of Obama’s reign with few in Congress notified by former Secretary of State John Kerry. The move arguably cements the former president’s anti-Israel attitude common in the last few weeks of his term.
Transcript below:
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CBS Evening News
January 24, 2017
6:39:51 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: Her [Nikki Hayley’s] diplomatic skills may be tested soon if the president follows through on his pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. That would essentially be U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinian leaders also claim the holy city, and they warn that the embassy switch would be an act of war. Seth Doane is there.
[Cuts to video]
NIR BARKAT: It's very important, very important.
SETH DOANE: Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat showed us what he’d like the see.
BARKAT: That could easily become the embassy. All you need to do is change the plaque.
DOANE: Barkat knows it's not that easy but sees the move as cementing Israel's long standing claim on Jerusalem. But the Palestinians also claim the city as their capital and fear the move would spark violence.
HUSAM ZOMLOT: This is an earthquake. This is not just moving an embassy. It’s an earthquake.
DOANE: Senior Palestinian Adviser Husam Zomlot said moving the U.S. Embassy would greatly reduce the chances for peace.
ZOMLOT: Moving the embassy to Jerusalem is taking away a great deal of hope toward the future. Moving the embassy, the U.S. Embassy, dismantling the foundation of the peace process will definitely open the gates for those who want to see violence.
DOANE: Jerusalem touches a nerve, it's home to sensitive religious sites claimed by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Aren't you concerned that this could hurt the peace process, that this could spark violence?
BARKAT: We would not have a state if we were deterred and concerned about threats we unfortunately receive every once in a while.
DOANE: Since President Trump was sworn in, more than 3,000 new homes for Israeli settlers have been approved, illegal under international law. Husam Zomlot worries what President Trump's vocal support for Israel means for Palestinians, but hopes his reputation for pragmatism will prevail.
ZOMLOT: He's a businessman. He knows that if you actually go and give the other side all they want, then they will have no interest in a deal.
[Cuts back to live]
DOANE: White House spokesman Sean Spicer said today that President Trump would like to grow closer with Israel, and, Scott, that's a pledge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would like to capitalize on.
PELLEY: Seth Doane in Jerusalem. Seth, thank you.
