Be sure to read Part 2 which discusses the Democratic Party's reversal and the Republican Party's moderation
The issue of what city is the capital of Israel is a political football (and even controversial on
geography blogs).
Despite the fact that the seat of Israel's government is in the city, the
vast majority of countries are weary of recognizing Jerusalem as
Israel's capital out of fear of alienating Arab states and potentially
harming dialogue between Israel and various Palestinian factions.
Domestically, all major Republican and Democratic presidential
candidates have called for officially recognizing Israel as the capital
of Israel since the 1969 Presidential Election between Richard Nixon and
Hubert Humphrey. In 2008, for example, Barack Obama countered claims
of being anti-Israel by calling for a
united Jerusalem
being the capital of Israel (meaning that all of the city should be in
Israel and none of it should be in a Palestinian state). In reality
though, calls for an undivided Jerusalem or even recognizing part of
Jerusalem as Israel's capital remains political theater for candidates
seeking votes.
Therefore it may be somewhat surprising to some political junkies
for the Democratic Party to remove calls for recognizing Jerusalem as
Israel's capital, though it more closely mirrors reality since no
president is willing to formally approve the move. The
2012 Democratic Party platform states:
President Obama and the Democratic Party maintain an unshakable
commitment to Israel’s security. A strong and secure Israel is vital to
the United States not simply because we share strategic interests, but
also because we share common values. For this reason, despite budgetary
constraints, the President has worked with Congress to increase security
assistance to Israel every single year since taking office, providing
nearly $10 billion in the past three years. The administration has also
worked to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. And
we have deepened defense cooperation – including funding the Iron Dome
system – to help Israel address its most pressing threats, including the
growing danger posed by rockets and missiles emanating from the Gaza
Strip, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. The President’s consistent support for
Israel’s right to defend itself and his steadfast opposition to any
attempt to delegitimize Israel on the world stage are further evidence
of our enduring commitment to Israel’s security.
It is precisely because of this commitment that President Obama and
the Democratic Party seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A
just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian accord, producing two states for
two peoples, would contribute to regional stability and help sustain
Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state. At the same time,
the President has made clear that there will be no lasting peace unless
Israel’s security concerns are met. President Obama will continue to
press Arab states to reach out to Israel. We will continue to support
Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, which have been pillars
of peace and stability in the region for many years. And even as the
President and the Democratic Party continue to encourage all parties to
be resolute in the pursuit of peace, we will insist that any Palestinian
partner must recognize Israel’s right to exist, reject violence, and
adhere to existing agreements.
All this is strong pro-Israel
language. However, to some this shocks since there is no mention of
Jerusalem as the capital like previous platforms such as
2008's which stated
Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties
have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It
should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.
For comparison, the 2012 Republican Party platform (
PDF, page 49)
calls for Jerusalem being Israel's capital but leaves ambiguity for
final status as undivided/divided and potentially also serving as a
Palestinian capital.
We support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state with secure,
defensible borders; and we envision two democratic states— Israel with
Jerusalem as its capital and Palestine— living in peace and security.
