Posted on 01/12/2017 12:51:08 PM PST by Eleutheria5
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jLNiUzJfsQ
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Defense Department, General (ret.) James Mattis told a congressional confirmation committee on Thursday that he believes that Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem, should be considered the capital of Israel.
Mattis, who in the past criticized the Jewish state over “settlements” in Judea and Samaria and warned the country was at risk of turning into an “Apartheid” state, appeared to deviate from the stated policy of the incoming Trump administration, which has indicated it plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
When asked Thursday by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham what he believes Israel’s capital is, Mattis claimed the Israeli government is located in Tel Aviv.
"The capital of Israel that I go to, sir, is Tel Aviv, sir, because that's where all their government people are," Mattis said.
It is unclear whether the retired Marine general simply erred in his response, or was referring to Israel’s military establishment, which is headquartered in the Kirya complex in Tel Aviv.
Israel’s seat of government is in Jerusalem, where the Knesset, Supreme Court, and major ministries are all located.
.....
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
DOD should have no opinion.
He can have his opinion, but it doesn’t mean any more than yours or mine...Not his choice...
Responding to the title only: “today.”
Look at how they had to twist this to make it seem it was a break with Trump
He said that he was going with the current government designation and any change would be handled by the Secretary of State. Good answer.
This is disapointing. However the generals have fell in line with the habit of following this point of view.
Misleading headline. It seems to me that he said Tel Aviv is where it is, not where it should be.
Besides, why should the head of the Defense Department be asked that question? That’s a question for State, not Defense.
That’s not his call.
Israel’s capital is wherever Israel wants it to be.It’s Israel’s decision and theirs alone.
Mattis needs some remedial briefings on the capital cities of countries.
“Tel Aviv, sir, because that’s where all their government people are” is not the correct answer.
Has Common Core infected the military?
This is tantamount to a dodge. He differs to the SOS.
Disturbingly, this is in the video: He supports 2 state solution "if it brings peace to the ME".
Exactly why he's not SOS nominee.
He can “change” his mind back once he is confirmed.
Lindsey Graham, advocate for arming and financing the Muslim Brotherhood, al Qaeda, and ISIS! Trying to take someone to task on support for Israel.
Wow...
Well, he’s effin wrong but, an amazing pick for SoD
He seems to have answered the question literally and correctly about where administrative offices are today. It seems like he wasn’t looking to get into a linguistic or existential debate about what the word “is” means in “where IS Israel’s capital.”
he needs a high school geography book
It isnanbreak with President-Elect Trump. president-Elect Trump is moving the embassy to Israel’s capital, and the Nominee for Secretary of Defense says that the capital is Tel-Aviv and not Jerusalem.
Read his carefully crafted words
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