Back in the news is the United States’ plan to reopen its consulate in Jerusalem. At a joint press conference with Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the Biden Administration’s intention to reopen a separate consulate in Jerusalem: “And as I said in May, we’ll be moving forward with the process of opening a consulate as part of deepening those ties with the Palestinians.”

The consulate handles tasks like issuing visas and passport renewal, and there was one in Jerusalem until early 2019 when it was merged with the new US embassy, which had recently relocated from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital city. Reopening the consulate would be a step backwards for the United States in terms of recognizing that Israel is the eternal capital of Israel alone. It gives the Palestinian Authority official recognition in Jerusalem.

We pray Jerusalem will continually be “built up, a city knit firmly together” (Psalm 122:3)

Attorneys Nathan Levin and Alyza Levin, who have been deeply involved in fighting for US recognition of Israel’s right to Jerusalem recently wrote that there is “…no practical reason to open a new consulate-general anywhere in Jerusalem.” Israeli blogger Abu Yehuda reminds us of the law passed by Congress recognizing the truth of Jerusalem: “…Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected [and] Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel…”

We pray Jerusalem will continually be “built up, a city knit firmly together” (Psalm 122:3)

Israel's Strategy in the Golan Heights

Also in the news, Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently announced a “strategic goal” of quadrupling the population of the Golan Heights. Israel took control of the Golan in the Six Day War, after Syria used the high ground to launch attacks on the Galilee region below.

Forty years ago, Prime Minister Menachem Begin applied sovereignty to the area, a fact that was recognized by the United States just three years ago. The United Nations routinely condemns Israeli presence in what it calls the “Syrian Golan” but Israel is there to stay, as PM Bennett put it, “The Golan Heights is Israeli, period.”

Fun Fact: The locusts we offer in our store come from the Golan Heights! »

Antisemitism rampant in Ireland

Another item in the headlines this month: Irish author Sally Rooney denied an Israeli publishing house permission to publish her latest book in Hebrew, citing alleged “apartheid against Palestinians.”

Unfortunately this is in line with a historical pattern of antisemitism in Ireland. A recent report showed a disturbing trend of hatred of Israel and the Jews, oftentimes spurred by Irish politicians. Elder of Ziyon found a newspaper article from 1904, where the Jews of Ireland detailed how they were being driven out of business in the country. Today still, many in Ireland’s parliament support a ban on “trade with and economic support” of Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Last May, the lower house of parliament passed a strong condemnation of Israel’s “de-facto annexation” of the territories.

Anyone who bases their opposition to the Jewish State on claims of apartheid, is building on a foundation of lies. And while opponents of Zionism (Jewish self-determination in their homeland) insist their words and actions are not motivated by antisemitism, such a division rarely, if ever, exists.