I. also drew different opinions with regard
I. TITLEWhyUS President Donald Trump wants to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital? II. INTRODUCTIONDuring the presidentialcampaign of President Trump, he had repeatedly promised to recognize Jerusalemas Israel’s capital. On 06 December 2017, he declared that Jerusalem isIsrael’s capital. It was followed by the plan of transferring US embassy toJerusalem. This policy of president Trump outraged most of the Muslim countriesin the Middle East and the rest of the world even the American people. Thepolicy was denounced by most powerful countries and it also drew differentopinions with regard to its implication to Muslim nations.
On the other hand,Israeli prime minister applauded the policy of President Trump. As a result ofthis declaration, conflicts between Israeli forces and Palestinian forces begunto escalate. The relationship of Muslim countries with Israel and United Statealso worsened.
The Trump administration says itremains committed to the peace process and its decision does not affectJerusalem’s future borders or status. It says any credible future peace dealwill place the Israeli capital in Jerusalem, and ditching old policies isneeded to revive a peace process frozen since 2014. But even Israel’s closestEuropean allies have rejected that logic and say recognizing Israel’s capital unilaterallyrisks inflaming violence and further wrecking the chance for peace. This is a policy that may causeconflicts around the world, hatred among people, or may even trigger anotherwar. III. ANALYSIS: There are plenty of explanations,theories, and opinions that will elucidate the decision of President Trump indeclaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The following theories, internationalrelation principles, and level of analysis will make us understand the reasonsof Trump’s decision. The three (3) international relation principles that may help usunderstand the policy of president Trump. First, the dominance principle canexplain why Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This principleemphasizes on establishing a power hierarchy. The United States of America(USA) has been a super power and precisely Trump wanted to show the world thatUSA is still a hegemon in today’s time. Trump is trying to portray that theU.
S. can decide anything because they are a hegemon. Making declaration that isagainst everybody can be interpreted as power manipulation. The decision ofTrump may increase power of the United States in the Middle East. Second, the reciprocity principle mayalso describe the decision of President Trump.
Reciprocity is all about giveand take or simply doing things that have mutual benefits. Declaring Jerusalemas Israel’s capital may be advantageous to the Americans and the Jewish people.Maybe Trump thinks that the U.S. will benefit to his policy in terms ofeconomic and security in the future. The history of the 6-day war of Israelagainst the Arab nations was a concrete proof of reciprocity because of the supportUnited States. In return, the Israeli intelligence agency has also been helpingthe U.S.
intelligence agency until now. Maybe, president Trump likes tocontinue this good rapport between Israel and the United States. For the Jewishpeople, this policy is favorable for them because finally Jerusalem has beenrecognized as their capital. Lastly, the identity principle also mayexplain the decision of Trump. This principle is simply talking about sharingvalues and identity. The U.S.
and Israel has been allies for many decades. Theyhave been friends for a long time and maybe this friendship pushed Trump todeclare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel to strengthen their friendship. Theyalso share the same kind of government system and this also may have influencedthe policy of Trump. These values may be the factors that pressed Trump’sdecision. On the levels of analysis, the individual level of analysis, thedomestic level of analysis, the interstate level of analysis, and global levelof analysis may also explain the policy of president Trump. First, the individual level of analysistells us about the character of the leader himself.
President Trump is aninfluential leader and everything he says is closely monitored around theworld. He is known of his unorthodox policies unlike his predecessors. Heusually utters words that are sometimes outrageous. These uniquecharacteristics of Trump may explain his decision. Maybe he thinks that makingsuch recognition will make him greater or maybe he just made such decisionbecause he simply wants it. The assumption of the press that Trump is sometimeslunatic may explain also his controversial declaration. On this level ofanalysis, we can conclude that the unpredictable personality of Trump may be afactor in his policy.
Second, the domestic level of analysistalks about internal pressures such as politics, organizations and the like.The decision of Trump may be because of political pressures or because ofclamors of the American people. Maybe president Trump believes that recognizingJerusalem as Israel’s capital will help him in future elections. The decisionof Trump may have caused by the public opinions or other organizations.
Hispolicy may be an appeal to the evangelical Christian base. Third, the interstate level of analysis focuseson the interactions of states themselves, without regard to their internalmakeup or the particular individuals who lead them. The decision of Trump maybe attributed to the predominance of U.S. power. The Trump administration mayhave believed that no other nations will interfere with the policy. Finally, the global level of analysis seeks to explain international outcomes in terms of global trends andforces that transcend the interactions of states themselves.
The U.S. has beenfighting terrorism for decades and may be the Trump administration thought thatrecognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transferring U.S. embassy toJerusalem will help in combatting the spread of terrorism.
Israel’sintelligence agency is one of the best agency in the world and has been helpingthe U.S. ever since in their fight against terrorism. This policy of Trumpadministration may have influenced by their fight against terrorism. There are different theories in international relations that willhelp us understand Trump’s policy. Using these theories, we will try to explainthe possible reasons of president Trump. The first theory is the realist theory.Realism or political realism is a school of thought that explains internationalrelations in terms of power.
Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is aboutpower. President Trump is trying to influence the world through his policy.This is one way of achieving power in the Middle East because maybe the U.S.considers Israel as a gateway to achieve power in the region. This theorysuggests that rulers use power to advance their interests. This is exactly whatthe United States wants because they have to protect their own interests.
Declaring Jerusalem as capital of Israel is a show of America’s hegemonicpower. The second theory is the liberaltheories. Liberal theories believe that peace is attainable.
President Trumpmay have perceived such declaration as a solution for the unending tension inthe region especially between Israel and Palestine. Trump may have thought thatpeace and cooperation of the Arab nations and Israel shall be attained throughthis move. The third concept is the Kant andpeace. This theory explains how peace and cooperation arepossible.
Under this concept are reciprocity principleand trade as promoter of peace. The decision of Trump may have influenced bythe reciprocity and trade. Maybe Trump thought that peace and cooperation inthe region shall be enhanced through his proclamation. He may have believedthat conflicts between Arabs and Jewish shall be minimized by his decision.
Trade may have also influenced his decision because may be he foresaw thattrade between America and other nations shall be improved. Trump may havethought that there will be a stronger interdependence between America and Israelwith his policy. Fourth concept is the collectivesecurity. This pertains to the formation of a broad alliance of mostmajor actors in an international system for the purpose of jointly opposingaggression by any actor.
Israel has been a longtime ally of the United Statesand for the latter to do an advantageous decision for the former is a sign ofreinforcing their alliance. During the 6-day war in 1967, the support of theUnited States played important role for the success of the Israel Defense Force(IDF). Trump may have realized that Israel is a strategic country that may helpAmerica in times of aggression. IV. CONCLUSION The policy of president Trump declaring Jerusalem asIsrael’s capital is perhaps the most controversial issue in the internationalarena in the present time.
It is a policy that is against the majority of theworld even America’s closest friends. Infact, the Israel-Palestine conflict had worsened because of the declaration. TheArab countries also vowed to protect their Palestinian brothers against Israel andAmerica. There are dangerous implications of this in the future if this policywill not be changed. The different theories, principles, and levels of analysisin international relations may shed light to the reasons of the policy but the resultis obvious-it created more conflict and chaos in the Middle East. For the Arabs,this is a one-sided policy because president Trump did not consider the effectsof his proclamation to the Arab nations. This assertion may create another warbetween Arab countries against Israel and United States.
President Trump may have good intentions in his policybut he should have taken consideration the aspirations of the international arenawhich is to ensure peace in the world. Making such declaration will just build conflictbetween nations especially in the Middle East. The Trump administration shouldaccept the resolution of the United Nations to withdraw this policy. Trump’sdecision may favor Israel and America however, the decision also creates their enemies.I believe that the best option for president Trump is to follow the resolution ofthe United Nations to avoid conflict in the Middle East.
