US-Israel relations will strain due to Biden administration's decision to start consulate: former Israeli army official

Jerusalem: – Former Israeli military officials and analysts have warned, ‘The decision of the Biden administration to restart a high commission for the Palestinians, in Jerusalem, will strain relations between the United States and Israel. Both Israel and the United States will have to face dire consequences of the decision.’ The Israeli sentiments regarding Jerusalem are very intense. Only a week ago, Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned the Biden administration that Jerusalem is the capital only of Israel.

Moreover, three years ago, US President Donald Trump moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump had announced that Israel is a sovereign country and Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. At the same time, closing the high commission in east Jerusalem, Trump disposed of the Palestinians’ demand to divide Jerusalem into two parts. But the Biden administration, who took over the reins of the United States in February, has increased movements to withdraw this decision taken by Trump.

In May, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, met Palestine President Mahmood Abbas. He also announced that the high commission for the Palestinians would be restarted in east Jerusalem. Vitriolic reactions had been received from Israel over this decision of the Biden administration.

A week ago, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett adopted a firm stand regarding Jerusalem. Bennett advised that if the United States so desires, it should open the high commission in the West Bank. But there doesn’t seem to be any change in the approach of the Biden administration. As per the media, the Biden administration may announce the high commission for Palestinians in East Jerusalem at the end of November.

Retired Israel military official and leading military analyst Gershon Hacohen warned the Biden administration over this matter. Hacohen warned ‘If the United States started a high commission in east Jerusalem, it would be an open interference in internal matters of Israel. This will be a major jolt to our pride and this amount to a violation of Israeli sovereignty and US laws.’

According to ‘The Jerusalem Embassy Act’ passed by the US Congress on 23rd October 1995, east and west of Jerusalem is a joint capital under Israeli administration. Despite this, the United States started the embassy in Tel Aviv and a high commission for Palestine in the easter part of Jerusalem. In 2018, President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the embassy to Jerusalem. It was claimed that this decision taken by Trump was within the purview of US law. Hacohen warned that the United States and Israel would face severe consequences if the Biden administration changed the situation. Hacohen warned ‘Israel expects not only practical but also moral support from the United States. In this scenario, if the United States took a wrong decision regarding Jerusalem, it will jolt the resolve of the United States. In that case, the tensions in the region will escalate further.’

Hacohen has suggested that despite all this, if the United States decides Jerusalem, Israel should be prepared to tell the United States to get out of Israel. It should also be prepared to deny the cooperation worth $3 billion with the United States. The Israeli military analyst cited the example of 1948 for this. Hacohen expressed confidence, ‘We started the 1948 war of independence without any assistance from the United States. Israel can do it again. Israel will need assistance only from God for this.’