Trump: We moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem for the Evangelicals
His statement in Oshkosh is one of a number of comments he has made about the link between his pro-Israel policies and Christianity.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFUS President Donald Trump delivers remarks at Basler Flight Service in Oshkosh, Wisconsin(photo credit: TOM BRENNER/REUTERS)
The United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital to satisfy the Evangelicals, US President Donald Trump said Monday during a campaign stop in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.“We moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem,” Trump said, “That is for the Evangelicals. You know it is amazing with that. The Evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people. It is incredible. But we did. We did that. And Golan Heights, do not forget Golan Heights.”The American President spoke less than a week after the announcement of the US brokered nascent deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which Trump has said would help protect Christians from persecution in the Middle East.His statement in Oshkosh is one of a number of comments he has made about the link between his pro-Israel policies and Christianity.Trump often references the US relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and US recognition of Israel as its capital during campaign speeches.Jerusalem has been Israel’s capital since its inception, but only a few countries, such as the US, have recognized it as such. Russia recognized West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in April 2017. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017, and relocated its embassy there in 2018. It was the first country to do so. Guatemala followed suite.The Trump administration recognized sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, becoming the first country to do so.Trump often speaks of both those accomplishments during campaign speeches.His list of achievements on Monday did not include US recognition that Israeli settlements were not inconsistent with Israeli law, nor did he speak of the pledge in his peace plan that Israel could apply sovereignty to those communities.
