Trump’s Quds Bid Aimed at Winning Israeli Support in US Congress: Analyst
"Trump is widely unpopular and not a mainstream politician, so he needs as much support as possible. He can get this from the supporters of Israel, who are very strong in Congress. This is why he wants to be seen as their champion. As long as he can make himself appear indispensable to them, he can achieve some of his agenda," Paul Larudee, also an activist with the Free Palestine Movement, told IQNA.
Larudee is an Iranian-born American political activist and human rights volunteer, who works with the International Solidarity Movement. He is a former contracted US government adviser to Saudi Arabia and a founder of the Free Gaza and Free Palestine Movements.
Following is the full text of the interview:
IQNA: As you know, the US plans to move its embassy to occupied Jerusalem (Quds) in May. What is your take on the move? What is the main reason behind this decision?
Larudee: Trump is widely unpopular and not a mainstream politician, so he needs as much support as possible. He can get this from the supporters of Israel, who are very strong in Congress. This is why he wants to be seen as their champion. As long as he can make himself appear indispensable to them, he can achieve some of his agenda.
IQNA: How would or should the world, particularly the Muslim world, react to the move if made?
Larudee: Until now, the world, including the Muslim world, has reacted only with words. We should expect more of the same. Only if Israel begins to confiscate and destroy al-Aqsa mosque and the Haram al-Sharif should we hope to expect anything from the Muslim world, with the operative word being "hope". Until now, the leadership of most Muslim nations has shown itself to be willing to tolerate Zionist violations of international law, so we cannot expect much from them.
IQNA: Do you believe that the Quds bid by the US would be the final nail in the coffin of Zionism in the Middle East as many experts believe?
Larudee: I do not expect the Quds move by the US to be more than a bit of glue in the coffin of Zionism, not even a nail, much less the final one. There are many more atrocities to be expected from the Zionist project before the world decides to rid itself of this abomination. The Zionists have created many advantages for corrupt politicians in many countries, including the most powerful ones. If you need a dirty job to be done, "Israel" is ready to help. They are experts at assassination, armed repression of popular movements, disinformation, surveillance, propaganda and other means of controlling populations. This gives them influence in the power structure of many countries, which is why the world consistently refuses to act against the Zionist state.
IQNA: The United Nations General Assembly on December 21 overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Quds as the occupying regime’s capital. Do you think it is enough?
Larudee: The US has shown that it cares nothing for UN resolutions, especially those of the General Assembly. Resolutions are mere words set to paper. They may have the force of law, but law is meaningless without enforcement, and the US is the major enforcer of its will in the world. Who is going to enforce anything against the US? Already, the US is the biggest violator of international law in the world, sending its troops and using its weapons against many nations in violation of the UN charter. It is hard to imagine a worldwide movement strong enough to make the US comply with international law.
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