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Jerusalem status: World condemns Trump's announcement Jerusalem status: World condemns Trump's announcement
(about 1 hour later)
Traditional US allies are among a growing chorus condemning President Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.Traditional US allies are among a growing chorus condemning President Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Saudi Arabia called it "unjustified and irresponsible", while France and the UK said they did not support the decision.Saudi Arabia called it "unjustified and irresponsible", while France and the UK said they did not support the decision.
But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic day". But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "historic" and said he was sure more countries would follow suit.
President Trump's move reversed decades of US policy. The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians. President Trump's move reversed decades of US policy on one of the thorniest issues between Israel and Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Donald Trump's move as "deplorable". Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party said it would complain to the UN about what Mr Abbas called a "deplorable" decision, while Islamist group Hamas has called for a new intifada, or uprising.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are expected to hold a day of strikes and protests on Thursday. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are due to hold a day of strikes and protests on Thursday.
The UN Security Council is to discuss the issue on Friday after eight of the 15 member nations called for an emergency session. The Arab League is to meet on Saturday.The UN Security Council is to discuss the issue on Friday after eight of the 15 member nations called for an emergency session. The Arab League is to meet on Saturday.
What did Trump say?What did Trump say?
The US president said on Wednesday he had "judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians". The US president said on Wednesday that he had "determined it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
"I've judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians," he said.
He said he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.He said he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfils a campaign promise and appeals to Mr Trump's right-wing base.Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfils a campaign promise and appeals to Mr Trump's right-wing base.
"Today, I am delivering," the US leader said.
Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital was "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality", he added. "It is also the right thing to do."Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital was "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality", he added. "It is also the right thing to do."
He said the US still supported a two-state solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if approved by both sides, which would essentially see the creation of an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel. He said the US would support a two-state solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if approved by both sides, which would essentially see the creation of an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel.
What do Israel and the Palestinians say?What do Israel and the Palestinians say?
Following the announcement, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful, tweeting: "Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes, our dreams, our prayers for three millennia." Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful to Mr Trump, who had "bound himself forever with the history of the capital".
On Thursday, he went further, saying President Trump "bound himself forever with the history of the capital", and predicting that many other countries would follow Washington's example. He also said Israel was "in touch with other countries to follow suit. I have no doubt other embassies will move to Jerusalem - the time has come."
He did not name any of these countries, although the Philippines and the Czech Republic have been singled out in Israeli media.
The Republican Jewish Coalition thanked the president in a New York Times ad.The Republican Jewish Coalition thanked the president in a New York Times ad.
The mood was very different on the Palestinian side, with a day of strikes and protests planned.The mood was very different on the Palestinian side, with a day of strikes and protests planned.
The leader of Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, called for a new intifada, or uprising, saying it was the only way to "confront" Israel and the US. Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip, has called for a "day of rage" on Friday and said it should "be the first day of the intifada against the occupier".
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Mr Trump's announcement "deplorable" and said Jerusalem was the "eternal capital of the state of Palestine". "We have given instructions to all Hamas members and to all its wings to be fully ready for any new instructions or orders that may be given to confront this strategic danger," he said in a speech in Gaza.
Fatah, Mr Abbas's party, said it would push for a UN resolution requesting that Washington "rescind its decision" and disqualifying the US as a co-sponsor of the peace process. Meanwhile, Fatah is seeking to protest through diplomatic means, by filing a complaint to the UN Security Council and pushing for a strong stance by the Arab League.
"We are going to declare the United States disqualified as co-sponsor of any peace process or political process," spokesman Dr Nasser Al-Kidwa said. "In our mind, it has lost its ability to do or perform any efforts in this regard."
What does the rest of the world say?What does the rest of the world say?
The Arab and the wider Muslim world - including a number of US allies - condemned Mr Trump's announcement.The Arab and the wider Muslim world - including a number of US allies - condemned Mr Trump's announcement.
Demonstrations have already taken place outside the US consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Demonstrations broke out outside the US consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and in Jordan's capital Amman. Palestinians turned off Christmas lights in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
"The US move represents a significant decline in efforts to push a peace process and is a violation of the historically neutral American position on Jerusalem," the Saudi royal court said. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Mr Trump was "throwing the region into a ring of fire".
Malaysian PM Najib Razak called on Muslims everywhere to "make it clear that we strongly oppose" the US move. "What do you want to do Mr Trump? What kind of an approach is this? Political leaders exist not to create struggles but to make peace," he said.
Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said the move "hurt the feelings of hundreds of millions of Arabs and Muslims".
The Saudi royal court said it "represents a significant decline in efforts to push a peace process and is a violation of the historically neutral American position on Jerusalem".
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it was "a moment of great anxiety". He said "there is no alternative to the two-state solution".UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it was "a moment of great anxiety". He said "there is no alternative to the two-state solution".
In other reaction:In other reaction:
Why is the announcement significant?Why is the announcement significant?
Mr Trump's announcement puts the US at odds with the rest of the international community's view on Jerusalem's status.Mr Trump's announcement puts the US at odds with the rest of the international community's view on Jerusalem's status.
The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.
Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.
Jerusalem contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity.Jerusalem contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, was annexed by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967, but before now it has not been internationally recognised as part of Israel.East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, was annexed by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967, but before now it has not been internationally recognised as part of Israel.