One step closer to Jesus? Embassy moves to Jerusalem on May 14

The road signs have already been changed to direct people to the new location. Situated in Jerusalem is a new United States embassy that opens on May 14. The move has made the Palestinians angry but Israel  is welcoming the change. Many American evangelical Protestants are pleased. 

A worker posts signs to direct people to the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (Catholic Online)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/7/2018 (6 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: Jerusalem, embassy. move, Jesus, Palestinians, Israel

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The United States is getting a new embassy in Israel, situated in Jerusalem. The move has made Israel happy, but the Palestinians are angry. 

The move serves as a reinforcement of President Trump's official recognition that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Palestinians see the move as a betrayal. Palestinian President Mohamoud Abbas referred to it as a "slap in the face."

Jerusalem is a holy city for the world's three Abrahamic religions. Jews see the city as an ancestral capital. Christians revere it as the place where Jesus died and was buried and was then resurrected. Muslims see it as the place where Mohammed ascended into paradise. 

While the move will disrupt the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, the American decision to make the move is based on a different calculus. Evangelical Protestants in the United States widely believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent, but before that can happen, scripture prophesizes the restoration of Israel. The movement of the embassy is seen as a step closer.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, road signs were changed on Monday and the plan is to open the embassy on May 14, in conjunction with celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the modern state of Israel. 

The old U.S. embassy is located in Tel Aviv. 

By moving the embassy, President Trump is making good on another one of his campaign promises. The change to Jerusalem was already in the works, since 1995 when a law was passed to move the embassy. However, previous presidents signed waivers to the law to maintain the fragile peace in the region and to preserve the American role as a peace-broker between the Israelis and Palestinians. That role may now be forfeit, but most Americans don't care. 

The extent of American concern for Israel has more to do with the religious significance of the region and the belief in the second coming of Jesus Christ. As for Israel, they understand the American intention but accept it anyway as a coincidence of desire. The American support is welcome no matter what the motivation may be. 

Meanwhile, the possibility of conflict in the region is increasing as Israel and Iran fight a war of words. Both sides have exchanged fire in Syria, part of a wider, simmering, potential conflict over Iran's regional and nuclear ambitions.