Dispute has raged 50 years
Mr Trump signs order JERUSALEM has significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims, and all three religions have some of their holiest sites in the Old City.
When modern Israel was set up in 1948, its DONALD Trump’s plan to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been called a “kiss of death” for the Middle East peace process.
The US President ignited fury as he said the American Embassy would move from Tel Aviv.
The UK representative for Palestinians, Manuel Hassassian, said the changes to US policy were like “a declaration of war”.
He said: “I mean war in terms of diplomacy. It means a kiss of death to the two-state solution.
“He is declaring war in the Middle East, he is declaring war against 1.5billion Muslims [and] hundreds of millions of Christians who aren’t going to accept the holy shrines to be totally under the hegemony of Israel.”
Announcing his decision, Mr Trump said: “I’ve determined it is time to officially recognise 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 of the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians... Many presidents have said they want to do something... Today, I am delivering.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the move “unacceptable”. Spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh said: “It will put an obstacle to the Mahmoud peace process. Abbas
Maybe it will be the end of the peace process.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Our historical and national identity is receiving recognition, especially today.”
In Gaza, US and Israeli flags were burned and in the West Bank, Hamas declared tomorrow a “day of rage”. Turkey will host a meeting of Islamic nations next week. government was based in the west of the city. In 1967 it took the east (where the Old City is), which Palestinians claim as their capital. The issue was meant to be resolved through talks.