Concerned over US move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel capital: Jordan King

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday voiced concern over Washington's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, as US Vice President Mike Pence visited Amman during an uncomfortable Middle East tour. Arab outrage over President Donald Trump's decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem had prompted the cancellation of several planned meetings ahead of Pence's trip, originally scheduled for December. Abdullah, a key US ally, said he had "continuously voiced over the past year... my concerns regarding the US decision on Jerusalem that does not come as a result of a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian Israeli conflict". "Jerusalem is key to Muslims and Christians as it is to Jews," he added. "It is key to peace in the region. And key to enabling Muslims to effectively fight some of the root causes of radicalisation."

Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community. The US move to recognise the city as Israel's capital broke with decades of international consensus that the city's status should be settled as part of a twostate peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its united capital, while the Palestinians see the eastern sector as the capital of their future state. Israelis and Palestinians alike interpreted Trump's move as Washington taking Israel's side in the dispute over the city.

Pence will head to Israel later today for a two-day visit, during which he can expect a warm welcome from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.