Jewish studies professor gives insight into the Israel border conflict

The contrast between Monday's events in Jerusalem and on the Gaza Strip border was stark. In Jerusalem, there was celebration and there were smiles as American and Israeli officials marked the official relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the formation of Israel. At the same time, thousands of Palestinians erupted in protest on the Gaza border. Are we now in a new era in Israeli-Palestinian relations? Has America permanently given up its role as a mediator in peace talks? And have the dynamics fundamentally changed both in Israel and across the Middle East?

Howard Lupovitch, associate professor of history and director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State University, says moving the U.S. embassy fits neatly into Trump's style of politics. "This is more about showmanship than diplomacy," he says. "This fear [many Israelis have] is genuine," says Lupovitch. "It's more complicated than saying it's an all-or-nothing approach. There is a tapestry of points of view and they all have to be taken into account."

Interview: Perception and Reality in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip