On the Verge of History

Hearken, O my people. Tomorrow, we are on the verge of history. 70 years of our independence from British rule and the historic day of the opening of the first American embassy in our capitol, Jerusalem.

The new capitol in the Arnona section is actually the site of the present American Consulate in Jerusalem, one of two, the other being on Agron street in the heart of West Jerusalem.

When President Trump proposed the construction of a new and prominent building and site for the new embassy in Jerusalem, he was told that it would cost more than one billion dollars and would take at least ten years to build it.

Wise businessman that he is, Trump looked over the Arnona Consulate and declared “No problem. We’ll just change the name from “Consulate”: to “Embassy”.  And to his glorious credit, that is what he did.

Tomorrow on the 14^th of May, Jerusalem will be “em-bannered” with flags and signs praising and thanking Donald Trump for fulfilling his campaign pledge to acknowledge recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s three thousand year-old capitol city.

If the city’s founder, King David who conquered it from the Jebusites, could see his city today he would be overwhelmed with joy at its development, progress, and beauty but would be saddened by the lack of tranquility and the bitter hostility.

Besides the many hundreds who will attend the diplomatic ceremonies of the dedication of the opening of the embassy, the streets of east Jerusalem, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and the Gaza Strip will be witness to the tens of thousands of Arabs marching and shouting “Death to America” in their protest.

Tomorrow will be a double source of joy for us. Those who can remember the pre-State days prior to May 14, 1948 must be walking in wonder and amazement at the growth of Jerusalem. Our 70^th anniversary will be celebrated with singing and dancing, eating and drinking, coupled with the joy of the opening of an American Embassy.

The only part of the celebration that I do not like is the march of our youth carrying our national flag while parading purposely through the Muslim quarter of the Old City.

It is done to show the 100% of the Arab Muslims living there “ha ha !  we are here!”

We can celebrate without the need to shove it in the face of the Muslims only to anger them and to increase their resentment, hatred and hostility against us, furthered by the strong emotions of their Nakba day.

Our police have required all  Arab shops and businesses to be closed and boarded up for the duration of the day to prevent destruction by the Jewish marchers. Those Arab merchants who refuse to shutter their windows and doors will be required to pay a fine. This is done in order to protect them from the violence.

One of my close friends, a Jerusalemite, commented to me yesterday “Trump has made Israel loveable to the nations of the world”. Whereas in past, American presidents made promises but neglected to fulfill them due to anti-Semitic opposition from members of the State Department, Donald Trump had the courage and the conviction to fulfill his promise of an American embassy in Jerusalem.

He has earned the love of the Jewish people throughout the world and together with them, the admiration of good Christians who are devoted friends of Israel.

He has made the European nations sit up and recognize what democratic states should do and his fulfilled promise has been followed by Honduras, Uruguay and Paraguay who announced that very soon their embassies will be moved from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Prime Minister of Romania has also promised to open its embassy shortly in Jerusalem, although the announcement has been criticized by the country’s president who is a supporter of all European Union decisions.

Dealers are said to be taking bets on which nation will be the next to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol city and seat of its government. I put my money on the Czech Republic to be followed by Hungary.

We are today living on the verge of world history.

Rejoice, o my people and give thanks to Almighty God who has enabled us to live to see this historic day.

Our eyes again witness the glory of Zion and Jerusalem. Am Yisrael Chai ! The people and the nation of Israel lives!