Jordan vs. Trump an embassy row

Jordan warned on Thursday of “catastrophic” repercussions if President-elect Donald Trump makes good on a campaign promise to move the US Embassy in Israel to contested Jerusalem.

Such a move could affect relations between the United States and regional allies, including Jordan, Information Minister Mohammed Momani said, addressing the issue publicly for the first time.

An embassy move from the current site in Tel Aviv (pictured) would be a “red line” for Jordan, would “inflame the Islamic and Arab streets,” and serve as a “gift to extremists,” Momani said, adding that Jordan would use all possible political and diplomatic means to try to prevent such a decision.

The US considers proWestern Jordan an important Mideast ally. The Hashemite kingdom is a key member of a US-led military coalition against ISIS extremists in neighboring Syria and Iraq, and main- tains discreet security ties with Israel.

Jordan also has a stake in Jerusalem, serving there as custodian of the Dome of the Rock, Islam’s third-holiest shrine.

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and annexed it to its capital.

Momani said that moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem would “have catastrophic implications on several levels.”

He said countries in the region would likely “think about different things and steps they should take in order to stop this from happening.”

“It will definitely affect the bilateral relationship between countries in the region, including Jordan, and the parties that will be related to such a decision,” he said.

Trump said during the presidential campaign that he intended to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said last month that moving the embassy to Jerusalem is a “very big priority” for the presidentelect.

Trump’s choice for US ambassador in Israel, David Friedman, has said he looks forward to working from Jerusalem.