Pastors’ presence in Jerusalem, embassy celebrations is distressing
Celebrating the move of the U.S. Embassy while massive protest and violence occur is even more distressing when you add two of the most extreme clerics to the celebration.
The provocation of moving the U. S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is additionally distressing upon learning who helped Israel celebrate its defiance as massive protest and violence spread throughout the region (“Embassy opening spurs celebrations across the Atlantic,” May 18).
Two of the most extreme clerics, Robert Jeffress and John Hagee — both of whom have made outrageous statements, including incendiary comments about Jews — were welcomed to provide the opening and closing prayers, respectively.
It was stunning to see that Jeffress closed his prayer with, “in the name and the spirit of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Lord,” thereby serving to expectorate in the faces of his hosts, whom he seemed to have forgotten are Jews.
We must recognize that the United States is not an independent island, that actions we undertake have serious ramifications throughout the world and affect our standing in the world. Our president says, nonsense, we will do what we please and he demonstrates it through one unilateral action after another, consistently undertaken in defiance of the counsel of our allies.
The credo of “we will do what we please, if you do not like it, too bad” is no way to govern. It is sure to come back to haunt us and it already is.
Oren Spiegler
South Strabane Township
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