4 Israel lobby stakes claim for Jerusalem at Supreme Court, but Kagan isn’t buying

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://mondoweiss.net/2014/11/jerusalem-supreme-buying

While everyone’s focused on election day another big story is going on at the Supreme Court. Oral arguments over Zivotofsky v. Kerry began yesterday, in a case that could potentially decide U.S. policy over the sovereignty of Jerusalem, the West Bank as well as the entirety of Occupied Palestine. Under a deceptive guise, ostensibly “created to give individuals the right to self-identify,” the case brought before the court, pushed by stalwarts of the Israel lobby, including but not limited to the Zionist Organization of America, American Jewish Committee, the Anti Defamation League, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center, seeks a ruling that essentially grants Congress the authority to bypass the executive branch on Jerusalem, thereby stripping the president of the power to conduct foreign affairs. And yes, in Congress, the lobby rules.
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Described as both “a proxy war for U.S. foreign policy toward Israel“, a “foreign policy minefield,” and “a massive smack down between the congressional and executive branches” the implications of the Supreme Court ruling could have lasting repercussions not just to US politics, our national interest, and separation of powers regarding the dominant voice in US foreign affairs, but damage to the Middle East could be devastating.

Obama’s Solicitor General, Don Verrilli, argued the status of Jerusalem is “the most vexing and volatile and difficult diplomatic issue that this nation has faced for decades” and suggested US credibility could hinge on the outcome:

[T]he fact of the matter is that the parties in the region, the nations in the region, and frankly people around the world and governments around the world scrutinize every word that comes out of the United States Government and every action that the United States Government takes in order to see whether we can continue to be trusted as an honest broker who could stand apart from this conflict and help bring it to resolution.

[azurnoir]

1. This exchange between the Zivotofsky's lawyer and Justice Kagan is quite revealing

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan cut to the heart of the matter:

JUSTICE KAGAN: I take it, Ms. Lewin, when you say the West Bank, I take it you think that Congress could pass the identical statute with respect to a child born in Hebron, say.

MS. LEWIN: Saying that ­­–

JUSTICE KAGAN: That that, too, is Israel?

MS. LEWIN: Correct.

JUSTICE KAGAN: Yes. Okay.

- See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/11/jerusalem-supreme-buying#sthash.RqJIQuwX.dpuf

The entire matter could be quite easily solved by the birth certificate stating born in West Jerusalem Israel

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. It's just one more stepping stone to them for the legalized conquest

of the Palestinian people's land.

[sabbat hunter]

3. Are you saying

West Jerusalem is not Israeli land?

[azurnoir]

4. Are the Zivotofsky's asking for the childs birth certificate to read West Jerusalem Israel?

because I have not read that anywhere could you give us a link with that reference?

[sabbat hunter]

7. There is no city

as West Jerusalem. It would say Jerusalem. Just as one from Palestine would if someone was born in the Eastern portions (just substitute in Palestine for Israel), once the eastern portions are returned to a future state of Palestine. (except for the old city).


So it should say Jerusalem, Israel.

Edit: my OP should have said western Jerusalem,not west Jerusalem.

[azurnoir]

9. so there is no West Jerusalem sounds like One Jerusalem founded in responce to Camp David

http://onej.org/about

[sabbat hunter]

10. not really

even if Palestine were to get the eastern parts of what is referred to as Jerusalem, the remaining Israeli portion would still be called Jerusalem. Palestine would probably call their part Al-Quds, which is the commonly used Arabic name for it. That is how it is currently referred to for the most part in Arabic.

[azurnoir]

11. has no bearing on the court case which is going on now the kid was born in West Jerusalem Israel

who gets what in the future really doesn't matter

[shaayecanaan]

5. I feel sorry for the kid

I was playing with Legos at his age. This is the second time he's been in major litigation, and all because his parents see fit to use him as a pawn in their own struggle.

[King_David]

8. I agree

He probably wishes he was just playing Lego.

[Jefferson23]

6. Ha..look at the groups supporting this and they have the gall to claim they want peace. n/t