By Lalit K JhaWashington, Dec 7 (PTI) US President Donald Trump'sdecision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel mayplay well with his domestic political base but is a big riskand would derail the peace process in the volatile MiddleEast, top American media outlets warned today.
Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital yesterday,reversing nearly seven decades of US and international policyon the holy city.
In an editorial, The Washington Post said Trump casthimself as setting aside failed conventional wisdom — hepointed out there has been no peace deal — and of offering afresh approach.
"That's a stance that may play well with his domesticpolitical base and with many Israelis. But Trump is implicitlybetting that previous presidents were wrong to worry aboutblowback in the Middle East and beyond. That's a big risk totake for the scoring of political points," the daily said.
In its lead editorial, the daily said so far, Trump'sdecision has been rejected by every major US ally in Europeand the Middle East, including Britain, France, Egypt andSaudi Arabia.
"It will put considerable pressure on Jordan, Israel'sfragile neighbour, whose King Abdullah II sees himself as aprotector of Jerusalem's holy Muslim sites. It will probablymake it harder to promote a tacit alliance between Israel andSunni Arab states against Iran, as Tehran will surely exploitthe Jerusalem issue," the daily said.
"It will also virtually ensure that Palestinian leadersrespond unfavourably to the peace initiative the Trumpadministration says it is preparing. If violence erupts inJerusalem or elsewhere in the Middle East — and extremistswill do their best to make that happen — Trump will beblamed," the Post said.
The New York Times says Trump's decision to tip thescales toward Israel on this critical matter almost certainlywill make an agreement harder to reach by inflaming doubtsabout America's honesty and fairness as a broker innegotiations, raising new tension in the region and perhapsinciting violence.
"The constituency Trump is most clearly courting is hisown political base of evangelicals and other pro-Israel hard-liners," it said, adding the big winner is Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose hard-line government hasshown no serious interest in peace, at least not a two-statesolution that could win Palestinian support.
However, The Wall Street Journal in its lead editorialsaid Trump's decision is hardly the radical policy departurethat critics claim and Trump accompanied it with an embrace ofthe two-state solution for Palestine that Presidents of bothparties have long supported.
"Trump called his decision yesterday "a recognition ofreality," and he is right. Israel's parliament, Supreme Courtand the president and prime minister's residences are housedin Jerusalem and US Presidents and Secretaries of State meettheir Israeli counterparts there," the daily said.
Meanwhile, two White House officials told CNN that thiswould derail the peace process. "We're prepared for derailment-- temporary, I hope. Pretty sure it will be temporary," asenior White House official, told the network.
The official acknowledged that the President's peace teamhas not spoken with furious Palestinian officials since theTrump's announcement.
"A lot of people put their heads into this decision tosee how do we make this happen without at the same timethrowing the peace process out of the window," one of theofficials said.
"In terms of a moment where it could happen, where itcould be the least disruptive at a moment in time, this is themoment. We know there will be some short term pain, but thinkit will help in the long run," the second senior official toldCNN.
Fox News said Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem asIsrael's capital city is an acknowledgement of historical factand current reality. "Bold actions can prompt new thinking andstimulate initiatives to advance peace," it said.
"US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is anact of constructive diplomacy – not, as one Palestinian leaderproclaimed, a declaration of war," it asserted. PTI LKJ AMSAKJAMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.