U.S. Moves Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv Despite Palestinian Backlash

On the 70th anniversary of the formation of Israel, May 14, the United States Embassy was relocated to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

The protests began toward the end of March, originally in opposition to Israel’s economic blockade of Gaza, and have resulted in bloodshed primarily inflicting the protestors.

“We are used to confronting the (Israeli) occupation with our bare chests,” 25-year-old protester Ahmed Deifallah said to The Washington Post. “We are used to wars and no one with us but Allah.”

The protests have since shifted and become more focused on the U.S. choosing to move their embassy to Jerusalem, which was allegedly to catalyze a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

“When there is peace in this region, we will look back upon this day and will remember that the journey to peace started with a strong America recognizing the truth,” U.S. President Donald Trump said to The Washington Post.

The first hints at the embassy’s move came in December, when Trump altered decades of national policy by formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians…It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said to The Washington Post.

Palestinians are most apparently outraged over Jerusalem being handed over to Israel due to the fact that they were hoping to claim it as their own for their future state.

“This is a right,” Jibril Rajoub, general secretary of Fatah (Palestinian National Liberation Movement), said to The Washington Post. “The emergence of the Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as its capital is the only way to achieve security, regional stability and contribute to global peace.”