56) Analysis of the policy of "Jerusalem becoming the capital of the Palestine“

 SPOTM Analysis of “Jerusalem Becoming the Capital of the Palestinian State”

Verdict: Strongly Misaligned

The proposal to make Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state is strongly misaligned with SPOTM principles of realism, national sovereignty, security, and ordered liberty.

Why This Policy Is Strongly Misaligned

1. Historical and Religious Reality Jerusalem has been the spiritual, historical, and political capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years. It is the holiest city in Judaism and contains the holiest sites in Christianity. For Muslims, while Al-Aqsa is significant, Jerusalem (Al-Quds) has never been a capital of any Arab or Muslim state in history. Treating it as the capital of a Palestinian state ignores deep historical Jewish ties and would represent a profound symbolic defeat for Israel.
2. Security and Strategic Impossibility Jerusalem is a unified city under Israeli control. Dividing it or making it a Palestinian capital would create an immediate security nightmare. Palestinian leadership (Hamas, Palestinian Authority) has repeatedly shown it cannot or will not prevent terrorism from its territory. Placing the capital of a hostile or unstable entity in the heart of Israel’s capital would be suicidal for Israel and highly destabilizing for the region.
3. Rejection of Realism SPOTM is realist, not utopian. The idea that giving Palestinians Jerusalem would lead to “peace” contradicts decades of evidence. Every major Israeli territorial concession (Oslo, Gaza withdrawal, Camp David, etc.) has been met with increased terrorism and rejectionism rather than peace. Palestinian leadership has consistently refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state or accept any realistic two-state deal.
4. Undermines National Sovereignty Forcing or pressuring Israel to surrender its capital violates the principle that sovereign nations have the right to defend their core territories and holy sites. SPOTM supports the right of nations to defend themselves and maintain control over strategically and culturally vital areas.
5. Damage to American Interests Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. Recognizing and supporting this strengthens a reliable ally in a critical region. Undermining it weakens Israel, emboldens Iran and its proxies, and damages U.S. credibility with allies.

SPOTM’s Recommended Position

• Jerusalem is Israel’s undivided capital. The U.S. should maintain full recognition of this reality.
• Any realistic peace deal must respect Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.
• Palestinian statehood, if ever pursued, must be conditioned on genuine recognition of Israel, demilitarization, and ending incitement and terrorism — conditions Palestinian leadership has repeatedly rejected.
• Focus should be on pragmatic normalization between Israel and Arab states (Abraham Accords model) rather than the failed “land for peace” paradigm.

SPOTM Summary Statement:

“Making Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state is strongly misaligned. It ignores historical reality, creates severe security risks, rewards rejectionism and terrorism, and undermines a vital American ally. SPOTM recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal and undivided capital and supports realistic policies grounded in strength, sovereignty, and evidence rather than utopian fantasies.”

This position is consistent with SPOTM’s commitment to realism, national sovereignty, strategic thinking, and “Peace Through Strength.”

In addition:

Here’s more detailed information on the proposal of making Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state, from a SPOTM perspective.

Historical and Religious Context

• Jewish Connection: Jerusalem has been the spiritual and political center of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years. It contains the Temple Mount (site of the First and Second Temples), the Western Wall, and is mentioned hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible. Jews have maintained a continuous presence in the city for millennia, even when they were a minority under foreign rule.
• Islamic Connection: While important (Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock), Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran. It ranks far below Mecca and Medina in Islamic significance. Historically, Jerusalem was never the capital of any Arab or Muslim state.
• Christian Connection: Jerusalem is also central to Christianity, but Christians do not claim political sovereignty over the city.

SPOTM View: Historical and religious claims matter. Jerusalem is uniquely central to Jewish identity in a way it is not for Palestinians or the broader Arab/Muslim world.

Practical and Security Realities

1. Undivided Jerusalem Under Israeli Control Since reunifying the city in 1967, Israel has maintained security, allowed freedom of worship for all faiths (something that did not exist under Jordanian control 1948–1967), and vastly improved infrastructure. Dividing the city or making East Jerusalem a Palestinian capital would create an immediate security disaster.
2. Security Nightmare Palestinian leadership (both Palestinian Authority and Hamas) has a long record of incitement, glorification of terrorism, and inability to control militant groups. Placing their capital in the heart of Israel’s capital would put Israeli civilians at extreme risk and turn Jerusalem into a permanent flashpoint.
3. Failed Peace Processes Every major peace offer that included significant concessions on Jerusalem (Camp David 2000, Olmert 2008) was rejected by Palestinian leadership. The consistent Palestinian position has been “all of Jerusalem or nothing.” This is not a bargaining tactic — it reflects a rejection of Israel’s fundamental legitimacy.

SPOTM Strategic Assessment

• National Sovereignty: Nations have the right to determine their own capital. Israel has declared Jerusalem its capital. The U.S. and other nations recognizing this is simply acknowledging reality.
• Peace Through Strength: Rewarding rejectionism and terrorism by giving Palestinians Jerusalem would not bring peace — it would signal weakness and encourage further demands.
• America’s Interest: Supporting Israel’s control of Jerusalem strengthens a reliable democratic ally in a critical region and counters Iranian and Islamist influence. Undermining it harms U.S. strategic interests.

SPOTM Position Summary

Making Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state is strongly rejected. Jerusalem is, has been, and should remain the undivided capital of Israel. Any realistic peace must accept this fact. Proposals to internationalize or divide the city are dangerous fantasies that ignore history, security realities, and Palestinian rejectionism.

The Abraham Accords approach — normalization between Israel and Arab states without forcing suicidal concessions on core issues like Jerusalem — is far more promising than the failed “land for peace” paradigm.