Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital: Domestic motivations and regional circumstances

Abstract

This paper addresses regional circumstances and domestic factors that led to the Trump’s decision to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem as well as responses to the United States move. The US move of relocating embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after recognizing it as the capital of Israel would be likely impossible without the existence of specific domestic circumstances as well as regional developments. Trump wanted to get the support of the pro-Israel Republicans, to appease his pro-Israel donors, to win the support of his evangelical base, and to over-shadow investigations against him in the US. The regional situation in the Middle East made making such a decision an easier task for Trump, with Palestinians divided, Arab governments more willing to accept Israel, and some already in the process of normalizing ties with it. Meanwhile, Arab countries are busy with their own domestic issues following the outbreak of the Arab Spring and civil wars in 2011. All these factors paved the way for Trump to break a taboo in the US foreign policy that was maintained by all former American presidents, many of them are supportive of Israel, thus angering Palestinians and pleasing Israelis.