The US recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will move its embassy to the disputed city, Donald Trump said on Wednesday in a much-anticipated speech. “After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would produce a different result,” said the US president in an announcement. Therefore I have determined that it is the time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
He said that he had alerted the State Department to begin preparations to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. “The new US embassy in Jerusalem will be a fantastic tribute to peace,” he said. Trump was pushed to act on the embassy as a result of a 1995 law, which stated that Jerusalem “should be recognised as the capital of the state of Israel” and the US embassy be moved there. A waiver had been invoked by successive US presidents, postponing the move on grounds of “national security” once every six months, meaning the law has never taken effect.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly issued a statement saying that he was “profoundly grateful to the president for his courageous and just decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”. Conversely, Hamas warned that the move would “open the gates of hell” on US interests in the region. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also swiftly condemned the decision. He said the move constitutes a “withdrawal” by Washington from its role as a mediator in the peace process. Abbas said Trump’s decision will encourage Israel to continue its policies of “occupation, settlement-building, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.” He called Jerusalem “the eternal capital of the Palestinian State”.
Source: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-will-recognise-jerusalem-israels-ca…
