International differences over territory and legitimacy of states are neither rare nor obscure, but the unparalleled number of religious, ethnic, symbolic, political, national, and legal factors concerning Jerusalem make it the most controversial and disputed issue. The issue has divided the United States Supreme Court.  On June 8, 2015, in the case of Zivotofsky v. Secretary of State Kerry, the Supreme Court issued its ruling, in a 6-3 decision, in a complex constitutional law debate on the extent of presidential powers.  The Court faced the issues of whether the U.S. president has exclusive power to grant formal recognition to a foreign sovereign, and whether the U.S. Congress can decide foreign policy.  It discussed whether Congress can command the U.S. president and secretary of state to accept its decisions. However, the context and real significance of the case were whether the city of Jerusalem should be regarded as a part of Israel.  The son of...(Read Full Post)