Yesterday members of Trump’s ‘white trash’ family celebrated the opening of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem. Outside the Gaza gate thousands of Palestinian citizens were rioting. As they picked up stones and other natural debris set on fire to hurl across the wall, Israeli soldiers discharged their assault rifles into the crowd. At the end of the day, 58 Palestinians lay dead, and an estimated 2,500 were wounded; some seriously.

Why did all of this happen? The answer is simple. The rash decision of a single ignorant man is directly responsible for these deaths and injuries.

During his vile rallies during the 2016 campaign, Trump encouraged anger, hatred, and violence. When he declared that the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, he lied, and encouraged a violent response by the Palestinian people. I am an American citizen, and I do not recognize Israel’s “right” to declare that Jerusalem belongs to them. I am joined by tens-of-millions of Americans and hundreds of million around the world who believe that this sacred city cannot belong to a single country or a single religion.

Although I do not believe in organized religion, I understand my friends and family who are seriously devoted to their faith. However, I seriously doubt that our right wing politicians who frequently and obviously use religion to win elections can be called ‘Christian,’ or even religious. Our illegitimate president cannot claim to be a ‘Christian;’ he has no morals; no principles; and no compassion for his fellow man. His only god is money.

Jews believe that Jerusalem is their ‘holy city.’ Christians believe that this is where the most important events in history occurred; the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and his rise from the dead. Muslims claim the city as the location where the Prophet Muhammad rose to heaven.

Why Jared Kushner and Inanka Trump were sent to the opening of the embassy I will never understand. They are totally unqualified to represent the American people, and failed to obtain security clearances. Where was our Secretary of State? Where was our vice-president? Where was our loud-mouthed and illegitimate president?

Traveling with Trump’s white trash family were two extremely controversial Christian ministers. Both men have denounced all Jews in past sermons to their uninformed flock. One of these fake-Christians praised Hitler’s efforts to rid his nation of all Jews, and said “you can’t be saved by being a Jew.”

This is not an effort to defend Jews or the nation of Israel, but the truth is that the Christian religion, which is based on fairy tales, is only a couple of thousand years old. The origin of Judaism dates back more than 3,500 years. The Prophet Muhammad wrote the Quran in the seventh century, A.D.

Regardless of which of the three religions you support, the truth is that we should respect them all, and accept their claims to Jerusalem. This is what the first amendment demands, and any real American must accept this fact and responsibility.

Trump’s decision murdered at least 58 men yesterday; none of them soldiers of an army. When he announced his decision, he claimed that ‘recognizing Israel’s right to Jerusalem would bring peace to the region.’ If this is an example of Trump’s model for ‘peace,’ a major war will soon begin in the Middle East.

Lastly, it’s past time to recognize a ‘Palestinian State.’ Today marks 70 years of Israel’s statehood; the Palestinian people are still waiting.

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

Photo courtesy of Physicians for Human Rights

My novels are available on Amazon; CLICK HERE