ISRAEL/PALESTINE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “When the Stars and Stripes is hoisted over the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem next month it will be a physical milestone in a broader, striking shift by the Trump administration away from a half-century of traditional U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinians. For decades, even amid close U.S.-Israeli ties, Washington has tried to position itself as a neutral party in the vexing Mideast conflict, willing to call out both sides when they take steps seen as contrary to the pursuit of peace. Yet the expected May 14 move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will be just the latest in a series of steps the administration has taken that have delighted Israelis and angered and alienated the Palestinians. Over the course of his first 16 months in office, President Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital over Palestinian objections, slashed American aid to the Palestinians and programs that support them and ordered their office in Washington closed, though he ultimately let the office stay open. Just last week, Trump’s administration signaled it may be moving away from describing the West Bank as ‘occupied’ by Israel.”
–Josh Lederman and Matthew Lee, “US Embassy move in Israel emblematic of broader policy shift,” The Associated Press, April 25, 2018