Israel Celebrates 50-Years Since Its Capital was Reunified

Israel celebrated fifty years of the reunification of its capitol, Jerusalem, on Wednesday. The city had been divided during the 1948 war of independence, the east half remaining under Jordanian authority, the west side serving as the capitol of the modern state of Israel. But that changed in 1967 when Israel annihilated the armies of Jordan, Egypt and Syria in a week and not long after, Jerusalem was formally annexed. But the world has not recognized the Israeli conquest as the Palestinians press for Jerusalem to become its own capitol. Even the United States refuses to recognize Israeli sovereignty over either east or west Jerusalem, and has created a unique system for operating its diplomatic missions: the US ambassador to Israel has no jurisdiction or responsibility for the West Bank or east Jerusalem – or Palestinians — and is pretty much forbidden from even visiting there. The counsel-general has all such responsibilities despite his or her lower diplomatically. The Palestinians responded with a rally and protest against Israel.