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15:31, 15-May-2018
Expert: Embassy relocation lead to regional instability
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The new US Embassy opened on Monday in Jerusalem. United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, President Trump's daughter Ivanka and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in the ceremony.
Since last December, when Trump announced the controversial decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the removal process has been undertaken under strong oppositions from most of the countries around the world.
Li Guofu, from the Middle East Studies Center at the China Institute of International Studies, shared his opinion that this is not the decision of the US, but Trump's, to relocate the embassy. Besides, it is also related to the US domestic politics. "Jews have become the largest group donating to Trump's election campaign", and some familial reasons also contributed to why the decision was made.
While everything went smoothly at the embassy’s opening ceremony, the situation outside was real chaos.
May 14, 2018: A Palestinian man holding his national flag walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres next to a protester wearing an Anonymous mask during clashes with Israeli forces along the border with the Gaza strip east of Khan Yunis, as Palestinians protest over the inauguration of the US embassy following its controversial move to Jerusalem./ VCG Photo
May 14, 2018: A Palestinian man holding his national flag walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres next to a protester wearing an Anonymous mask during clashes with Israeli forces along the border with the Gaza strip east of Khan Yunis, as Palestinians protest over the inauguration of the US embassy following its controversial move to Jerusalem./ VCG Photo
May 14, 2018 is also the day of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Israel, a day of disaster in the eyes of the Palestinian people. The embassy’s opening was met with protests on the Gaza-Israel border, at which more than 50 were killed and 2800 injured by Israeli armed forces. The Holy City of Jerusalem seems to have become a city of massacre.
Therefore, the US' move, made with the intention of increasing regional peace, has instead accelerated to regional uncertainty. The role the US intends to play in the Middle East in the future has become a blur.
According to Li, many policies and statements given by Trump were actually contradictory. "Many people believe that Trump's policy has made the Middle East more tense, [and created] more conflicts and more instabilities rather than stability."