Trump to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital yesterday, upending decades of careful US policy and ignoring dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East.

A senior administration official said Trump would make the landmark announcement -which flies in the face of warnings from America's allies across the region and the world -- at 1 pm (1800 GMT) from the White House.

"He will say that that the United States government recognizes that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel," a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"He views this as a recognition of reality, both historic reality," the source added, "and modern reality."

Plunging further into a bitter centuries-old argument between Jews, Muslims and Christians, Trump will also order planning to begin on moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"It will take some time to find a site, to address security concerns, design a new facility, fund a new facility and build it," the official said, indicating that the move will not be immediate.

"It will be a matter of some years, it won't be months, it's going to take time."

The status of Jerusalem is a central issue in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the city as their capital, and expectations of Trump's announcement have roiled the combustible region.

In a frantic series of calls on its eve, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the EU, France, Germany and Turkey all warned Trump against the move.