CUFI-UK is calling upon the British Government to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the UK embassy. A CUFI-UK petition, launched Monday evening, has already gained 5,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
The petition challenges the shocking bias from the UK Government against Israel regarding Jerusalem, highlighting the double standard that exists by situating the UK Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, yet having a UK Consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Executive Director of CUFI-UK, Des Starritt, says, “As Christians, we believe that we should make a stand for Israel, even in the midst of such biased opposition. We are convinced that recognising Jerusalem, the biblical capital for the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, is the right thing to do.”
Starritt continues, “In 1917 Britain lead the way and recognised the need for the Jewish people to have a national home of their own in the land of Israel. One hundred years later, Britain must recognise the reality of Jerusalem as the capital of that nation. Accepting reality is the first step in working towards peace”:
The reality is that Jerusalem is already the capital of Israel. It has been the capital for the Jewish people for over 3,000 years and for the State of Israel for nearly 70 years. It is where Israel has chosen to place its government and parliament and where British government ministers gather on official visits. And, as Israel’s capital, it is the only capital city in the Middle East where all peoples can live with full religious freedom under Israeli law. This will not change.
The petition continues:
The UK government recognises the legitimacy of the State of Israel yet denies Israel the right of self-determining its capital. No other sovereign nation would accept being told where to locate its own capital.
By not recognising that Israel has the right to determine its capital, Britain is complicit with those that seek to delegitimise the existence of the Jewish State and deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem.
Alluding to opposition that exists to America’s embassy announcement last week, Des Starritt says, “We realise moving the UK embassy would be a bold and courageous move in the current geo-political climate. However, many nations are being intimidated from doing the right thing because of the threats and violent anger by those who oppose Israel. By forming foreign policy in response to these threats, the UK government is turning its back on our cherished ally, Israel.”
CUFI is calling for all those that believe Jerusalem is the capital of Israel to sign the petition by visiting https://www.change.org/p/uk-must-recognise-jerusalem-as-israel-s-capital-move-the-embassy