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Standing up for what is right

Dec 22, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Diplomacy is sometimes saying the harshest things but in the softest possible way. It is about using words and actions to achieve an end outside of the resort to violence. Diplomacy is about negotiations.
United States President Donald Trump had made known his decision to move the United States capital to Jerusalem, and at the same time, declare Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, a move that the rest of the world is vehemently opposed to.
Diplomacy saw those countries that support Israel refusing to openly state that Jerusalem should belong solely to Israel. Israel, after its establishment in 1948 was allowed to share a piece of the Holy City that is shared equally by Christians, Muslims and the Jews. Each of these religions lay claim to Jerusalem and each share the city.
During the war of 1967 Israel laid claim to a section of Jerusalem after wresting it from Syria. It held on to that section of Jerusalem ever since. So when Donald Trump vocalized an American view that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel he merely fueled Palestinian anger because the Palestinians hold dearly to the view that Jerusalem is theirs.
Trump openly did what his predecessors refused to vocalize. Israel often petitioned many countries to support its claim to the Holy City but none did, given their relationship with the Palestinians. In the interest of peace in the Middle East the various countries opted to use diplomacy. They sought common ground with both sides.
Trump has long been seen as an abrasive world leader. On this occasion he sallied forth and declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel. This gave rise to immediate unrest in the Middle East. The countries opposed to Trump’s decision immediately moved to the United Nations for a vote on the issue. This caused Trump to drop any guise of diplomacy.
It is known that the United States is a global power that reaches out to developing countries. It offers support in many forms to countries the world over. And being a military might it is seen as the best ally a nation can have.
Knowing this, Trump signaled that his friendship and support could be on the bargaining table. “Support me and we could be friends; oppose me and I would be your enemy.” The matter did not end there. U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, United Nations, went as far as to inform that on Trump’s advice she was going to take names of those who would speak against the United States.
She too acknowledged the power of her country because she contended that there were countries taking money from the United States and then insulting the Unites States in the United Nations. Trump went as far as to hold out visas as a lure. Vote with me and your visas are intact.
Yesterday, the United Nations voted on a motion to reject Jerusalem being the capital of Israel. The Caribbean Community was not a unit this time around. Rather each country was an independent. Guyana maintained its non-aligned opposition and despite the threats it voted against the United States. When the votes were tallied, there were 128 votes against the United States and nine in support of.
The votes of the English-speaking Caribbean suggested that they were cowed by Trump but at the same time, they wanted to support the Palestinians. They abstained. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda all refused to look Trump in the face. Guyana opted to stand up and be counted.
Forbs Burnham once told a congress of his party that it is better to die on one’s feet, than to live on one’s knees.

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