Photo, above: City of Jerusalem, which President Trump is officially recognizing as Israel’s capital on Wednesday, the first American President to do so
President Donald Trump is expected to announce Wednesday that the United States will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, according to BizPac Review.
The president told Israeli and Arab leaders of his decision Tuesday, according to The New York Times, which described the act as “a symbolically fraught move that would upend decades of American policy and upset efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”
(AP Photo/Eitan Hess-Ashkenazi, File)
Moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is not expected to happen right away.
More from The Times on the embassy move and concerns about “fresh violence” in the region:
“American officials, however, said such a move could not occur immediately for logistical reasons, given the lack of facilities to house the embassy staff. As a result, Mr. Trump is expected to sign a national security waiver that would authorize the administration to keep it in Tel Aviv for an additional six months.
Still, Mr. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital — and to set in motion an embassy move — is his riskiest foray yet into the thicket of Middle East diplomacy. Arab and European leaders warn that it could derail any peace initiative and even ignite fresh violence in the region.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II was among those who cautioned against the decision, the newspaper noted.
A statement from the royal palace read: “King Abdullah stressed that the adoption of this resolution will have serious implications for security and stability in the Middle East, and will undermine the efforts of the American administration to resume the peace process and fuel the feelings of Muslims and Christians.”
Meanwhile, Israel is bracing for a major uprising should Trump go through with the announcement.
JUST IN: IDF on high alert as all Palestinian factions call for 3 days of rage from tommorow, following Trump plan to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 5, 2017
Donald Trump recognising Occupied Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel will trigger a political earthquake off the Richter scale in political terms. It may bring down the crowned heads whose decades of treason have paved the way to this.
— George Galloway MP (@georgegalloway) December 5, 2017
Trump just said he plans to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Even Jared Kushner will not be able to make peace in the region after this. Not good at all.
— Steve Westly (@SteveWestly) December 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ElliottRHams/status/938105186953977861
