History and political science professors discuss the border conflict with Israel
Wayne State University political science and history professors discuss the move of the U.S. Embassy. Will it help or hinder the prospects for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians?
"The U.S. embassy move should have been part of "final status" talks, not a premature and needless step to fulfill a rash campaign promise," said Frederic Pearson, director of the Wayne State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and professor of political science.
"It already has further inflamed an already incendiary situation both in Gaza and the West Bank, and reference to the latter as "Greater Israel" also harms any U.S. moderating influence in the region. Like the Camp David accords with Egypt, an Israeli-Palestinian peace will require a trusted guarantor for both parties; Washington has unfortunately relinquished any such role."
Professor Howard Lupovitch is a member of the History Department and director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State University. "Relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem will likely hinder the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, due not only to Palestinian anger but also to Israeli and Jewish euphoria.
To be sure, both anger and euphoria are reasonable reactions and not at all surprising: Jewish and Israeli Euphoria, given the deep connection to the city of Jerusalem since Biblical times; and Palestinian anger, due to a sense among Palestinians that their connection to Jerusalem is being denied."