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| US opens embassy in Jerusalem on ‘great day’ as Palestinian protesters are killed & injured | US opens embassy in Jerusalem on ‘great day’ as Palestinian protesters are killed & injured |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has opened its embassy in Jerusalem following the highly-divisive decision by President Donald Trump last December. Pledges of peace during the ceremony came as dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israelis in protests. | The US has opened its embassy in Jerusalem following the highly-divisive decision by President Donald Trump last December. Pledges of peace during the ceremony came as dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israelis in protests. |
| “Today, we extend to Israel the right we extend to any other nation - the right to designate its capital city,” said the US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, in front of an audience which included Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. | |
| “It’s been a long time coming… For many years we have failed to acknowledge the obvious,” said US President Donald Trump in a recorded message, noting that Jerusalem has been Israel’s historic capital since ancient times, and presently houses its key institutions. | “It’s been a long time coming… For many years we have failed to acknowledge the obvious,” said US President Donald Trump in a recorded message, noting that Jerusalem has been Israel’s historic capital since ancient times, and presently houses its key institutions. |
| Trump, whose speech was met with lengthy applause, also repeated that the embassy move would be a “step for peace” in the Middle East, breaking the deadlock produced by decades of stalled negotiations. | Trump, whose speech was met with lengthy applause, also repeated that the embassy move would be a “step for peace” in the Middle East, breaking the deadlock produced by decades of stalled negotiations. |
| Meanwhile, according to the IDF, an estimated 35,000 Palestinians are taking part in 12 separate protests. Called ‘The Great Return March,’ they are nominally dedicated to the return of Palestinians to their homeland, but are particularly intense in view of the embassy decision, which was vehemently condemned by the Palestinian leadership. | Meanwhile, according to the IDF, an estimated 35,000 Palestinians are taking part in 12 separate protests. Called ‘The Great Return March,’ they are nominally dedicated to the return of Palestinians to their homeland, but are particularly intense in view of the embassy decision, which was vehemently condemned by the Palestinian leadership. |
| The UK, Germany, and Washington’s other European allies also criticized the move, which provoked an initial wave of unrest, saying it would further destabilize the region. | The UK, Germany, and Washington’s other European allies also criticized the move, which provoked an initial wave of unrest, saying it would further destabilize the region. |
| The Palestinian Ministry of Health says that 37 people have been killed by Israeli forces during the current demonstrations. Israel has not provided figures of its own, but claims all those dead were either engaged in violence or terrorism under the guise of political protest. | The Palestinian Ministry of Health says that 37 people have been killed by Israeli forces during the current demonstrations. Israel has not provided figures of its own, but claims all those dead were either engaged in violence or terrorism under the guise of political protest. |
| Palestinian officials and activists on the ground have accused Israeli soldiers of firing on unarmed protesters, and other disproportionate uses of force. | Palestinian officials and activists on the ground have accused Israeli soldiers of firing on unarmed protesters, and other disproportionate uses of force. |
| DETAILS TO FOLLOW | DETAILS TO FOLLOW |