Donald Trump to mover US Embassy to Jerusalem 

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Washington: President Donald Trump reversed decades of US policy on Wednesday and recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite warnings from around the world that the gesture further drives a wedge between Israel and the Palestinians.

In a speech at the White House, Trump called his decision a "a long overdue" step to advance the peace process, saying that: "While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering."

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The president also said his administration begin a process of moving the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is expected to take years.

Trump aides contend the move reflects the reality of Jerusalem as the centre of Jewish faith and the fact that the city is the seat of the Israeli government.

US to recognise Jerusalem as Israel\'s capital, Trump says

But the status of Jerusalem – home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions – has been one of the thorniest issues in long-running Middle East peace efforts.

Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there. Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city\'s eastern sector, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move never recognised internationally.

Trump\'s decision is likely to please his core supporters – Republican conservatives and evangelical Christians who comprise an important share of his political base.

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Moments after Trump finished his address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became a rare voice applauding the president, saying he was "profoundly grateful" to Trump on a "historic day."

President Donald Trump making his statement about recognising Jerusalem as Israel\'s capital despite intense Arab, Muslim and European opposition. 

But it infuriated and dismayed world leaders. Trump\'s move would "serve the extremist groups\' agenda" and drag the region into "an endless religious war," said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. His main peace negotiator, PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat, said it closed doors for negotiations while "Trump tonight disqualified the United States of America to play any role in any peace process".

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Iran denounced the US move, as some protesters took to the streets of Amman and other provinces.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop said there was no change to Australian policy, and the embassy would remain in Tel Aviv.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he rejected unilateral steps that jeopardise peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the decision "contravenes all rules of international law," adding that the short-term priority was to ensure people stayed calm as it is up to Israelis and Palestinians to continue the peace process.

Trump acted under a 1995 law that requires the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem. His predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, had consistently put off that decision to avoid inflaming tensions in the Middle East.

A Palestinian envoy said the Trump decision was a declaration of war in the Middle East.

The Palestinians have said Trump\'s move would mean the "kiss of death" to the two-state solution, envisaging a Palestinian state in territory - the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem - that Israel took in the 1967 war.

"He is declaring war in the Middle East, he is declaring war against 1.5 billion Muslims (and) hundreds of millions of Christians that are not going to accept the holy shrines to be totally under the hegemony of Israel," Manuel Hassassian, the chief Palestinian representative to Britain, told BBC radio.

Palestinians seethed with anger and a sense of betrayal.

"Trump wants to help Israel take over the entire city. Some people may do nothing, but others are ready to fight for Jerusalem," said Hamad Abu Sbeih, 28, an unemployed resident of the walled Old City in East Jerusalem.

"This decision will ignite a fire in the region. Pressure leads to explosions."

Pope Francis called for Jerusalem\'s status quo to be respected, saying new tension would further inflame world conflicts. 

"I cannot remain silent about my deep concern for the situation that has developed in recent days and, at the same time, I wish to make a heartfelt appeal to ensure that everyone is committed to respecting the status quo of the city, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations," Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience at the Vatican.

"Jerusalem is a unique city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, where the Holy Places for the respective religions are venerated, and it has a special vocation to peace," he said.

China and Russia expressed concern the plans could aggravate Middle East hostilities.

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