Donald Trump's commitment during his presidential campaign to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there.
During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump made a significant promise to shift the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This pledge was part of a broader appeal to his voter base, which included strong supporters of Israel, such as evangelical Christians and conservative Jewish Americans. The promise also aligned with the Republican Party's platform, which had long advocated for this move. Upon his election, President Trump acted on this promise, making the official announcement in December 2017. This action was seen as fulfilling a key campaign commitment, despite warnings from global leaders and diplomats about potential repercussions for peace efforts and stability in the region. The move marked a stark departure from the longstanding U.S. policy of neutrality on the status of Jerusalem, which had been maintained by previous administrations, both Republican and Democratic.
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The decision was primarily an appeal to Trump's evangelical Christian base.
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A majority of top U.S. Jewish organizations welcomed the decision, with many issuing statements of support.
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Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital was seen as 'low-hanging fruit', achievable through presidential action alone, contrasting with other more challenging campaign promises
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