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Jerusalem embassy: US officials to attend opening ceremony US Jerusalem embassy: Gaza clashes before controversial opening
(about 1 hour later)
The US is to open its new embassy in Jerusalem - a move praised by Israel but condemned by Palestinians who are gathering for mass protests. The US is to open its new embassy in Jerusalem - a move praised by Israel but condemned by Palestinians.
Top US officials will attend the event, including President Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner. Top US officials will attend, including President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner.
Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as their own future capital and see the US move as backing Israeli control over the whole city. Palestinians oppose the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. They claim the eastern part but Israel says it will never divide the city.
For its part, Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital. Palestinians in Gaza clashed with Israeli troops on the border on Monday and two Palestinians were shot dead.
President Donald Trump's decision last year to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital broke with decades of US neutrality on the issue and put it at odds with most of the international community. Gaza's health ministry said they had been killed in the north and south of the territory.
Why is the move so controversial? Gaza's Islamist rulers, Hamas, have led mass protests in a so-called Great March of Return aimed at breaching the border fence over the past six weeks.
Some 45 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli forces, and thousands wounded.
Why is the embassy move so controversial?
The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is not recognised internationally and, according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is not recognised internationally and, according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.
Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war. It effectively annexed the sector, though this was not recognised by any countries until Mr Trump's declaration in December 2017.Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war. It effectively annexed the sector, though this was not recognised by any countries until Mr Trump's declaration in December 2017.
Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
Various countries once had embassies based in Jerusalem - but many moved after Israel passed a law in 1980 formally making Jerusalem its capital.Various countries once had embassies based in Jerusalem - but many moved after Israel passed a law in 1980 formally making Jerusalem its capital.
Annually, on 15 May, the day after the anniversary of Israel's creation, Palestinians commemorate what they refer to as the Nakba or Catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of their people fled their homes or were displaced following the foundation of the Israeli state in 1948. President Donald Trump's decision last year to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital broke with decades of US neutrality on the issue and put it at odds with most of the international community.
What will be opened and who will attend?What will be opened and who will attend?
A small interim embassy will start operating on Monday inside the existing US consulate building in Jerusalem.A small interim embassy will start operating on Monday inside the existing US consulate building in Jerusalem.
A larger site will be found later when the rest of the embassy moves from Tel Aviv.A larger site will be found later when the rest of the embassy moves from Tel Aviv.
The opening ceremony was brought forward to coincide with the state of Israel's 70th anniversary.The opening ceremony was brought forward to coincide with the state of Israel's 70th anniversary.
President Trump is expected to address those attending Monday's event via video link.President Trump is expected to address those attending Monday's event via video link.
Alongside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who are both senior White House advisers, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will be at the ceremony.Alongside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who are both senior White House advisers, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will be at the ceremony.
The EU has voiced strong objections to the embassy move.The EU has voiced strong objections to the embassy move.
How have Israelis and Palestinians reacted?How have Israelis and Palestinians reacted?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on "all countries to join the US in moving their embassies to Jerusalem". President Trump's decision to recognise Israel as Jerusalem's capital and move the embassy is strongly supported by Israeli Jews across the often fractious political spectrum. It is a diplomatic victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called it a recognition of reality.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has described Mr Trump's decision as the "slap of the century". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, however, has described Mr Trump's decision as the "slap of the century". He says the US can no longer be considered a neutral broker in on-off Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and cannot have any future role.
Thousands of Palestinians are gathering for a protest along the perimeter fence that separates Israel and the Gaza Strip on Monday. In Gaza, Palestinians have held weekly protests, which have turned violent, in the run-up to their annual commemoration of what they call the Nakba or Catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of their people fled their homes or were displaced following the foundation of the Israeli state on 14 May, 1948.
The timing of the embassy move has led to concerns about increased tension in Gaza. Hamas, which is in a state of conflict with Israel, says it will step up the Great March of Return in the lead-up to Tuesday, the official Nakba commemoration.
Since the end of March, more than 40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers in clashes at the border. It says it wants to draw attention to what Palestinians see as their right to return to ancestral homes in what became Israel.
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has accused Israel of using "excessive force". Israel says the protests are aimed at breaching the border, which it heavily guards, and attack Israeli communities nearby.
Israel maintains it has acted legitimately to protect its civilians from militants trying to breach the border.