Trump orders embassy move to Jerusalem
DONALD TRUMP tore up decades of convention on Wednesday by declaring the United States now recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.
In a speech televised from the White House, the US President said he had taken the decision because “we cannot solve our problems by making the same failed assumptions and repeating the same failed strategies of the past”.
He also repeated his country’s support for a two-state solution and said he would do “everything in my power to help forge such an agreement.”
The announcement came despite Western nations, including Britain, and Muslim countries cautioning him against the move.
“This is a long overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement,” Mr Trump said in his speech.
“Israel is a sovereign nation, with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this is a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace.”
Mr Trump said his predecessors as president over the past twenty years had repeatedly waived a law by Congress requiring the United States to relocate its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
He said this process had not worked: “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 format would now produce a different or better result.
“Therefore I have determined that it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
The US State Department would be instructed to begin preparations to relocate the embassy, beginning the process of “hiring architects, engineers and planners so a new embassy, when completed, will be a magnificent tribute to peace.”
On the prospects for peace with the Palestinians, Mr Trump said the decision “is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from the strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement.”
Immediately after his remarks, Mr Trump signed a waiver delaying the decision to relocate the embassy for a further six months, although it was not immediately clear if this was for the final time.
Late on Wednesday night Theresa May confirmed there were no plans for Britain to relocate its Tel Aviv embassy. “We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement.
“We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”