It's the Historic Fulfillment of a Dream Witnessing the Opening of the American Embassy In the Eternal Capital of Israel - Jerusalem

By 

Jay Sekulow

|
May 14, 2018

3 min read

Israel

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Today, May 14, 2018, will be remembered as a truly historic day.

Today the U.S. Embassy officially moves to Jerusalem – a victory decades in the making. I am in Jerusalem for the historic occasion. I can tell you that the United States' recognition of the reality that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the State of Israel will go down as historically very significant.

The realignment of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan - as well as a number of the Gulf States now as allies of Israel is already having a positive global geopolitical impact. We are seeing the implementation of a foreign policy that is really the Trump Doctrine. Seizing the moment has been a critically important part of these historic days.

This moment is long overdue. It’s been almost 22 years since the Jerusalem Embassy Act was passed, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, and ordering the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  The Act became law in November of 1995, despite former President Clinton’s refusal to sign it.

The law specifically states that “the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999” – nearly 19 years ago.

Yet no Administration since – Republican and Democrat alike – was willing to follow through, as each President repeatedly invoked waivers, citing multiple explanations and excuses.  Last year President Trump officially acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Shortly thereafter, the President announced that the U.S. Embassy in Israel would reopen in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence.

This is a monumental week for Israel, as well as for the United States, as we further strengthen our relationship with our strongest ally in the Middle East. The streets of Jerusalem are currently lined with American flags alongside Israel’s own flag.

While today is a cause for celebration in Israel and America, Israel’s enemies are ferociously fuming. There is a gathering storm rising against our ally. Iran has already fired dozens of rockets directly into Israel. We told you how Iran, while lying about not developing nuclear weapons, openly tested ballistic missiles emblazoned with the threat “Israel must be destroyed.”

Both Hamas and Hezbollah threaten war. The U.N. seethes with antisemitism and funds Israel’s sworn enemies. We just told you how it may have even provided facilities for terrorists to hide weapons.

As Scripture says of Israel, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt." At the ACLJ, it is our sacred duty to defend Israel.

We’re continuously defending our ally Israel. We’re battling the U.N.’s $65 million anti-Israel lawfare slush fund. We’re filing our second of three major briefs at the International Criminal Court (ICC) this month. We’re engaged in two major lawsuits in defense of Israel’s interests.

And we’ve filed new massive lawsuits against the anti-Israel Deep State over taxpayer funding for Israel’s enemies.

Over the last few days, I have been meeting with Israeli leaders and government officials – as your representative of the ACLJ – to determine how we can and will further defend our ally Israel.

This week’s events mark the fulfillment of something I’ve been fighting for, alongside our ACLJ members, for literally decades. It’s the completion of a decades-old promise to open our embassy in its rightful place, Jerusalem.

Today a dream has become a reality.