The United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will begin the process of moving its embassy there, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, marking a major policy shift that world leaders fear will inflame regional tensions.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious – that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” he said.
Trump called for the State Department to begin the multi-year process of relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the holy city that both Israelis and Palestinians see as their capital, calling it a “recognition of reality” and noting the city is the seat of Israel’s government.
The move prompted protests in the Palestinian Territories amid calls for “days of rage” as well as in neighbouring Lebanon, which is home to a large Palestinian refugee population.
Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets, chanting slogans against Trump and in support of Jerusalem and burning cars tyres in the towns of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, across Gaza City and in the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah.
The Christmas tree in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank had been turned off in protest.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s declaration as “a historic day,” while Palestinian Authority (PA) President
Mahmoud Abbas said the United States has “withdrawn” its role in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
