Quick fact: Jerusalem serves as the Israeli seat of government; the capital. Another fact: Despite some nice words to the contrary, no one treats it that way….including Israel’s closest ally, the United States. Presidents Clinton and Bush said they were going to – but never did move the US Embassy there from Tel Aviv. In 1995, Congress passed a law recognizing Jerusalem as the capital. But nothing really happened then either. Now, once again, a successful candidate has said he’s moving the US Embassy there….and for once it looks like he means it. Breaking Israel News reports that “the Trump team is already scouting sites in Jerusalem for the new building.”[i] And there’s something significant about the timing too. If it comes to pass soon it will have happened on what Israel’s Sanhedrin, – (a re-organized religious body that in earlier form rejected and condemned Jesus) – has declared to be a Jubilee Year. Jubilee’s, which occur every 50 years, are biblically-mandated celebration years during which the land goes back to its original owner. “In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession.” (Leviticus 25:13) So look what happened in the last several jubilees. 1917 was the year of the Balfour Declaration, in which Great Britain promised to Create a homeland for the scattered Jewish people. Fifty years later was 1967, when Israel recaptured Jerusalem during the 6-Day War. Now 50 years after that is 2017 – and the US seems finally ready to fulfill its promise by establishing an embassy in Jerusalem. We wait to see just what this Jubilee Year will bring!
[i] Trump Team Scouting Jerusalem Locations for US Embassy, Breaking Israel News, December 13, 2016
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