On this year’s Jerusalem Day, there was more excitement than usual, as the day coincided with the consecration of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem on May 14.
"We are witnessing history"
On Sunday, May 13, 2018, The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs hostged the official Israeli event to acknowledge the US Embassy relocation to Jerusalem, following President Donald Trump’s December recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital celebrating the enduring bond of friendship between the two nations.
The official opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel and with 51st anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, Israel’s eternal capital. 70 years ago, the US under President Harry Truman, became the first nation to recognize the State of Israel. Today, US became the first nation to recognize Jerusalem as the official capital city of the State of Israel.
“This is a momentous time. President Trump is making history. We are deeply grateful and our people will be eternally grateful for his bold decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the embassy there tomorrow," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized in his remarks at the ceremony.
President Trumps' decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem “affirms a great and simple truth”, PM Netanyahu marked at the event. “Jerusalem has been the capital of our people for 3000 years, the capital of our state for 70 years and it will remain our capital for all time”.
The guests list
Over 800 American and Israeli guests gathered for the festive ceremony. The event took place in the presence of the US Presidential Delegation of 250 officials; the ambassadors of four member nations in the European Union – Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania; many Israeli ministers and MKs; former Israeli ambassadors; Jewish and Christian organizations; Guatemala’s Foreign Minister and Guatemala’s Ambassador to Israel.
The US Presidential Delegation included Deputy Secretary John J. Sullivan - head of the delegation, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, US Ambassador David Friedman, Advisor and First Daughter, Ivanka Trump and her Husband Jared Kushner, who is Trump's special Middle East advisor, along with other officials.
“Tonight, on the eve of our new embassy’s opening; I would like to thank the Israeli MFA for helping us follow President Trump’s vision. Thanks for the partnership with the US State department here and around the world”, stated Deputy Secretary John J. Sullivan.
Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin spoke highly about the great alliance between Israel and the US, “We are celebrating 70 years of freedom and democracy. The US has no greater partner than Israel. The US and Israel work together on a number of issues, none more vital that the battle against terrorism”.
During the event, PM Netanyahu gave a letter of appreciation to the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman in gratitude for his contribution to this historical moment of moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.
For this momentous occasion, the MFA was turned into a lively and colorful market; so that the guests would feel like they’re visiting Jerusalem’s famous Mahane Yehuda market, full of Mediterranean delicacies and street food stalls.
A unique photo stand spot was also set up for the event, where guests could take a picture with a framed copy of President Trump’s Proclamation on Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, and to see the original letter of recognition from President Truman.
Following the US footsteps:
President Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, paves the way for other countries. Just as we welcome the American embassy, two countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, are already following Washington’s lead and will open their embassies in Jerusalem over the coming days and more are planning their embassies’ move to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Jerusalem has been the official capital of the State of Israel and the seat of its government since 1950. Jerusalem is home to Israel’s President, the Knesset, and Supreme Court, and the site of most government ministries and national social and cultural institutions.
Jerusalem served as the capital of sovereign Jewish kingdoms and commonwealths for centuries in antiquity, until after the birth of Jesus. The city is integrally enmeshed in Jewish history and culture, part of the bedrock of national and individual Jewish identity for 3,000 years. The yearning for Jerusalem has always been a central theme of Jewish life.
Jews have resided almost continuously in Jerusalem under many conquerors throughout the centuries. In the modern era, the Jewish community has formed the majority in Jerusalem since the mid-1800s. As the population grew in the first half of the 20th century, the city became the political center of the Jewish community under the British Mandate, which preceded the establishment of the State of Israel.
Drawing from the deep well of Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the centrality of the city to the life of the newly established State of Israel, it was only natural that the Knesset, Israel's parliament, declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 23 January 1950.
Becoming whole again:
Following the 1948 War of Independence, Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan for 19 years. During that time, Jews were denied access to all religious sites in eastern Jerusalem, including the Western Wall.
On 7 June 1967, Jerusalem was reunified after Egypt, Syria and Jordan forced a war upon Israel that led to an exhilarating Israeli victory in only six days.
This was the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD that the Old City, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall had been unified under Jewish sovereignty. It was also the first time in modern history that members of all faiths could pray freely at their holy sites, as Israel committed itself to freedom of religion and freedom of access to the holy sites for all, a promise it has kept for 51 years.
Ever since its reunification under Israel’s sovereignty, Jerusalem has become a haven for coexistence and cultural diversity, and a city that has a bit of everything for everyone.
Israel welcomes the US Embassy to Jerusalem, our united capital.