The billionaires, lobbyists, and Christian extremists behind Trumps Jerusalem move

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Hours after US president Donald Trump declared yesterday that the US would move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, US allies from Malaysia to Indonesia to France to Britain, condemned the move.

The unpopular decision reverses decades of American policy in the Middle East. Americans in Turkey, Germany, and through the region were warned by local US embassies to be cautious after the decision, and American children in Jordon told not to go to school. At least 22 were wounded during protests in Jerusalem, and militant group Hamas called Trump’s announcement a “declaration of war.

The decision is not popular at home, either. Trump’s own Department of Defense and Secretary of State tried to talk him out of it, according to multiple reports. Just 16% of Jewish-Americans favor unilaterally moving the embassy to Jerusalem, which Palestinians also claims as their capital, according to a survey of “American Jewish Opinion” taken in September. Overall, 63% of Americans oppose the move.

Trump’s decision is a “profound mistake,” Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J-Street, a “pro-peace, pro-Israel” lobbying group in Washington DC said Wednesday, echoing the words of French president Emmanuel Macron and many others.

So how did it happen? Trump’s decision is the latest example of how special interest groups, rather than US voters or long-term American diplomatic goals, can drive policy. Analysts say wealthy donors, influential lobby groups, and a far-right Christian fringe put pressure on a president eager to show he’s fulfilling his campaign promises.

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Just as deep-pocketed donors to the Republican party had a huge impact on the hastily-written tax reform bill that’s now being reconciled in Congress, they have put direct pressure on the US president to change US policy in Israel.

Most prominent are casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam Ochsorn, the largest individual Republican donors in 2016, who coughed up $83 million. Adelson failed to back Trump initially in the Republican race, but made an abrupt about-face during the primary, earning the couple a seat at Trump’s inauguration.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-billionaires-lobbyists-and-christian-extremists-behind-trump%e2%80%99s-jerusalem-move/ar-BBGmRPG?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=edgsp

[Irish_Dem]

1. We have the best government money can buy. :(

[Wellstone ruled]

2. A few of us DUers have forcast this

was going to happen once The Rethugs gained control.

[delisen]

3. Chuck Schumer is a main backer of this move by Trump

In fact he states that he advised Trump to do so.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/363465-schumer-advised-trump-on-declaring-jerusalem-as-israels-capital


I myself have no informed opinion. I do not have sufficient grasp of all the issues and have friend on both sides.

[Va Lefty]

5. I'll be damned. We need new leaders!

[Garrett78]

4. Anything that pisses off Muslims or other persons of color pleases Trump's base.

Trump knows that as long as he maintains his base, he can keep doing whatever he wants. Voter suppression, gerrymandering, a disorganized opposition party and a pathetic media means 35% support is sufficient.