voted on Jan. 2<\/a> to make it well-nigh impossible for Israel to give up any part of Jerusalem in peace negotiations. It raised the bar for Knesset approval of any peace agreement that would include ceding part of Jerusalem to a foreign entity from a majority to a supermajority of 80 of the body\u2019s 120 votes.<\/p>\nThe law itself might be reversed by a simple majority vote at a later date, but it also sends worrying signals about Israel\u2019s long-term intentions. This was further exacerbated that same day by President Donald Trump\u2019s ill-advised tweet stating \u201cwe have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
That telegraphs the wrong message to Israelis and Palestinians, and it stands in direct contradiction to the president’s own historic speech on the matter. On Dec. 6, Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and specified that \u201cwe are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem.\u201d He similarly confirmed that Jerusalem would remain \u201cone of the most sensitive issues in those talks.\u201d<\/p>\n
ADL welcomed the president\u2019s speech because Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel since its founding and the spiritual home of the Jewish people for millennia. But we also called on the parties to redouble their efforts to foster conditions necessary for an eventual two-state solution and to resume negotiations immediately.<\/p>\n
Whatever one\u2019s views on the particulars of any future peace agreement, however remote it may seem today, three priorities for Israel should be respected by all: Israel\u2019s fundamental right to security; its need to maintain a substantial Jewish majority; and the need to protect and strengthen Israel\u2019s democratic values and institutions. At the same time, it is essential that a final resolution also address the concerns of the Palestinian people and allow them to control their own destiny through some form of statehood. And we continue to believe that such a mutually beneficial outcome, one that delivers on the needs of all people, will be determined only through direct negotiations between the two parties as both sides make the tough choices that are required to achieve peace.<\/p>\n
A two-state solution still offers the only hope to achieve all these goals. Security is possible with the right terms. A Jewish majority can be assured by separating from the Palestinians. And Israel\u2019s democratic character and respect for civil rights depends upon its continued pursuit of the two-state solution. It is complicated and challenging, but it still must be the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n
(Jonathan A. Greenblatt is CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League.)<\/em><\/p>\n
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