--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The U.S. position on Jerusalem was not…" description: "\"The U.S. position on Jerusalem was not the reason why there hasn't been progress towards peace. The reason is that both the Israeli government and the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/richard-n-haass-3803_decision_the-u-s-position-on-jerusalem-was-not-th_1594927.jpg" --- # The U.S. position on Jerusalem was not the reason why… ![“The U.S. position on Jerusalem was not the reason why there hasn't been progress towards peace. The reason is that both the Israeli government and the Palestinian leadership are divided. And there is an enormous gap between Israelis and Palestinians. To say that this decision is only recognizing…” quote by Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/richard-n-haass-3803_decision_the-u-s-position-on-jerusalem-was-not-th_1594927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/richard-n-haass-3803_decision_the-u-s-position-on-jerusalem-was-not-th_1594927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/richard-n-haass-3803_decision_the-u-s-position-on-jerusalem-was-not-th_1594927.jpg) > “The U.S. position on Jerusalem was not the reason why there hasn't been progress towards peace. The reason is that both the Israeli government and the Palestinian leadership are divided. And there is an enormous gap between Israelis and Palestinians. To say that this decision is only recognizing reality, that Jerusalem is the actual capital of Israel - well, that's true. But it's a selective recognition of reality.” [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace stalls due to internal divisions, not just external recognitions. **In simple terms:** Divisions block peace more than symbols. Key Takeaway Address internal political splits. Themes politics peace conflict leadership Mood analytical concerned Type political strategic When to use this quote - negotiations - peace talks - regional stability Key Concepts diplomacy international relations Questions to Reflect On - What steps can bridge internal divides? - How to balance symbolic gestures with substantive change? A Different Perspective Recognition alone cannot resolve deep-rooted disputes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jerusalem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jerusalem/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Palestinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palestinian/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) ## Related quotes > [Jerusalem is a holy site for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Israelis and Palestinians both lay claim to it as their capital. Jerusalem is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/jerusalem-is-a-holy-site-for-jews-muslims-and-christians-israelis-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [If the president Donald Trump had connected the Jerusalem question to some other positions, linking it to Israeli and Palestinian behavior or putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/if-the-president-donald-trump-had-connected-the-jerusalem-question-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [That can be achieved by termination of Israeli occupation to the territories according to the international resolutions related, so the Palestinian State can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-can-be-achieved-by-termination-of-israeli-occupation-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Obama administration has consistently refused to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli territory, let alone as the capital of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/the-obama-administration-has-consistently-refused-to-recognize/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [90 percent, 85 to 90 percent of Israeli citizens in Judea-Samaria, in the West Bank, live in clusters, in urban blocks. Everybody understands that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/90-percent-85-to-90-percent-of-israeli-citizens-in-judea-samaria-in/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Every Israeli government since 1967, of left or right, has asserted that Jerusalem is Israel's capital and has allowed Israeli Jews to build there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/every-israeli-government-since-1967-of-left-or-right-has-asserted/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [My own sense is that if David Friedman chooses to live in Jerusalem, and quietly conduct diplomatic business from the now existing US consulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/my-own-sense-is-that-if-david-friedman-chooses-to-live-in-jerusalem/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Perhaps areas of Israel where current large Palestinian populations and demographic realities exist could be exchanged for Israeli expansion into the West Bank to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/perhaps-areas-of-israel-where-current-large-palestinian-populations/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [Jordan recognizes that east Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state and Jordan rejects foreign sovereignty -- Israeli sovereignty -- over the holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/jordan-recognizes-that-east-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-the/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I don't think Jerusalem should be controlled 100% by religious people of any denomination, sect, or religion - even my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/i-don-t-think-jerusalem-should-be-controlled-100-by-religious-people/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Mark Rylance is one of my heroes. I saw 'Jerusalem' four or five times, twice in New York, twice in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cox/mark-rylance-is-one-of-my-heroes-i-saw-jerusalem-four-or-five-times/) [Charlie Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cox/) > [“I believe that people are holy because they’re made in the image of God, and a place can be holy when God is present—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-brock/i-believe-that-people-are-holy-because-they-re-made-in-the-image-of/) [Jared Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-brock/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [We plan to eliminate the state of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/we-plan-to-eliminate-the-state-of-israel-and-establish-a-purely/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) ## More by Richard N. Haass > [Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/terrorists-and-terrorism-cannot-be-eliminated-any-more-than-we-can/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/there-is-no-way-to-know-for-certain-what-accounts-for-north-korean/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Security is the absolute precondition for sustainable recovery from conflict; without it, people cannot rebuild their country or return to school or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/security-is-the-absolute-precondition-for-sustainable-recovery-from/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/when-great-powers-fade-as-they-inevitably-must-it-s-normally-for-one/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Americans never would alter the way entitlement programs are funded or education administered without serious study and widespread debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/americans-never-would-alter-the-way-entitlement-programs-are-funded/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/sovereignty-must-be-redefined-if-states-are-to-cope-with-globalisation/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/america-s-armed-forces-are-an-essential-background-to-much-of-what/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No one pursuing reasonable goals and who is prepared to compromise can argue that terrorism is his or his group's only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-one-pursuing-reasonable-goals-and-who-is-prepared-to-compromise/) [Richard N. 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Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-believe-in-diplomacy-i-don-t-believe-in-talking-to-that-talking-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I've worked for four presidents, and I've concluded that almost nothing is inevitable. History is to a significant extent the result of the interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-ve-worked-for-four-presidents-and-i-ve-concluded-that-almost/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) [Explore all 121 Richard N. Haass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. 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