Letter to the editor

Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own capital

The Unity Coalition for Israel (UCI), a Kansas City-based group of Jews and Christians united for the sovereignty and security of Israel, applauds Sen. Sam Brownback’s leadership in sponsoring Senate Bill #2737. The Bill, introduced Nov. 5 will finally and effectively relocate the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The Brownback legislation stipulates every nation’s right to designate its own capital. Israel is no exception and they have established Jerusalem as their capital since 1950. In fact, as the Bill states, “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years … the spiritual center of Judaism.”

For seven years, Sen. Sam Brownback has woven this recurring theme through his speeches, sometimes devoting an entire speech to this topic. Now, with his introduction of Bill #2737, he is putting forth his strongest statement yet.

The 1995 Act states that since the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, “it is the official policy of the United States toward Jerusalem: that it should remain a united city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected; that it should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel.”

The original Act called for the U.S. Embassy to be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999. It was overwhelmingly adopted on Oct. 23, 1995, by both the Senate (93-5) and the House (374-37).

Although the U.S. Congress has repeatedly reaffirmed the will of the people toward Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a loophole has been used to allow the president to waive the move of the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As late as June 6, 2009, six successive presidents since Gerald Ford have all taken advantage of this stipulation to delay the move.

Senator Brownback’s leadership of the pro-Israel cause stems from a heartfelt desire to support Israel. Not often in history has there been a senator who has consistently supported the only democratic ally of the United States in the Middle East.

We must get behind Sen. Brownback’s bill to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem once and for all s where it rightfully belongs. We also appreciate the other Senators who co-sponsored this Bill — Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), David Vitter (R-LA), and Jim Bunning (R-KY).

It effectively removes the president’s ability to invoke the waiver granted with the 1995 Public Law 104-45 (The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995) finally ending the Oval Office’s ability to thwart the will of the people of the United States.

UCI will be alerting its tens of thousands of pro-Israel activists to make them aware of the new legislation. The land for the embassy has been purchased. It’s time to have a U.S. Embassy groundbreaking ceremony and recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — finally realizing the 2,000 year-old dream of the Jewish people. We hope that readers of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle will join with us, as well.

Esther Levens
CEO and Founder
Unity Coalition for Israel

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