Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israeli capital, instructs embassy relocation process

In a move condemned by most of the world, Donald Trump has announced the U.S. will recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The approach of a deadline this week for Trump to sign a waiver that would have assured the embassy remain in Tel Aviv for at least another six months fueled rising tension over his potential shift in policy.

Trump "is prepared to support a two State solution".

"We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians".

The IDF is on high alert after Hamas called for a "day of rage" ahead of the White House's expected announcement to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Israel deems Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital dating to antiquity, and its status is one of the thorniest barriers to an elusive Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Mahmud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization said Trump has destroyed the two-state solution, warning the United States could no longer hope to be a peace broker, while Hamas - the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip - said Trump's decision opens "the gates of hell on U.S. interests in the region".

In 1995, Congress passed a law requiring the American embassy to be relocated to Jerusalem.

An inbuilt waiver has been repeatedly invoked by successive USA presidents, postponing the move on grounds of "national security" once every six months, meaning the law has never taken effect.

Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama re-ratified the clause every six months.

But Trump appears set on fulfilling his campaign promise, regardless of the regional consequences.

"The recognition by the US and other countries will make clear to Palestinians that they must accept the existence of Israel and must conduct real negotiations of peace with Israel", said Intelligence Minister Israel Katz.

Trump was pushed to act on the embassy as a result of a 1995 law, which stated that the city "should be recognized as the capital of the state of Israel" and the USA embassy be moved there.

Also Wednesday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, slammed the decision on Twitter, saying it was taken "out of despair and debility".

"I have determined that it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel", Trump said from the White House.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech on December 6, 2017, during a diplomatic conference organized by daily Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post, in Jerusalem.

Jordan's King Abdullah II warned the Trump administration that an embassy move could derail Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts ― an issue Trump has delegated to Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and adviser.

The move would shift decades of USA policy, going against an global consensus that the status of the city should be decided in a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Council of the League of Arab States released a statement calling the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital an act of "open aggression" against "the rights of the Palestinian people and all Muslims and Christians". His move "will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division", they said.

The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem tweeted on Tuesday that U.S. citizens should avoid areas where crowds have gathered to demonstrate.

The Palestinian movement Hamas - said Trump's decision opens "the gates of hell on U.S. interests in the region".

The Trump administration has made several changes in policy in an attempt to cast itself as pro-Israel, including pulling out of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural and education agency, after accusing it of anti-Israel bias.

Israel, by contrast, applauded Trump's move.

It's unclear where in Jerusalem the embassy would be, however, which could present a possible obstacle to implementing Trump's plan.

Related News:

07 December 2017

Former WKU Coach Heads To Florida
Florida State also agreed to pay the remaining $1.37 million left on his buyout to USF, and the $3 million buyout owed to Oregon. Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel reported Taggart's contract is a six-year, $30 million deal , according to sources.

07 December 2017

Gujarat polls: Congress promises farm loan waiver, Indira canteens, special quota
Hardik Patel joined hands with the Congress after the latter agreed to his demand for reservation for the Patidar community. It would bring all private schools and colleges under Fee Regulation Act to make education affordable to common people.

06 December 2017

Rio de Janeiro police, soldiers capture famed drug trafficker
Nearly 3,000 police and troops were deployed Wednesday in the operation in which "Rogerio 157" was captured, local media said. Da Silva, known as "Rogerio 157", is accused of crimes including homicide, trafficking and extortion.
07 December 2017

Kiss Daniel reacts to lawsuit by G-Worldwide
The court having heard the application considered it proper to grant an order of status quo dating back to the recording contract. Entertainment Lawyer, Akinyemi Ayinoluwa stated that it is obvious Kiss Daniel didn't have lawyers when he signed the contract.

06 December 2017

Cyclone players upset Saquon Barkley won Paul Hornung Award
Added Penn State head coach James Franklin: "I am thrilled for Saquon to join this elite list of Paul Hornung Award winners ". In addition to being named first team running back, Barkley also was tabbed as first team for the "all-purpose" position.

06 December 2017

VW senior manager faces prison for US emissions scandal
The company needed to certify that the vehicles complied with US standards and wasn't able to do so without cheating. Defense attorneys, however, said Schmidt was not part of the initial plot conceived by others years earlier.
DL Carlson Investment Group Inc. Buys 25811 Shares of AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)
In the last ninety days, insiders sold 277,125 shares of company stock worth $25,891,756. (NYSE: ABBV ) for 33,640 shares. The stock of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD) earned "Buy" rating by Canaccord Genuity on Wednesday, December 9.

06 December 2017

Fires scorch Sylmar and Ventura County
The exception to the evacuation order was the Bel Air Crest housing development, which was not threatened, Garcetti said. Citywide, about 600 officers were assigned to coordinate security and various "firefighting events, " Beck said.

06 December 2017

Pentagon Revises Troop Numbers to 2000 in Syria; 5200 in Iraq
The Defense Department announced today there are 2,000 USA troops in Syria, after last month reporting there were only 500. Pahon said the U.S. troop commitment would be "conditions-based", meaning no timeline will determine any pull out.
07 December 2017

First responder to Pulse nightclub massacre could face pension cut
At the Eatonville Town Council's meeting on Tuesday, the council moved to remove him from the force completely. Delgado says he doesn't understand the department's decision to terminate him without his full benefits.

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi 'worth €200m'
Ausilio said: "I do not think that Icardi needs to be convinced to stay at Inter because he has a long enough contract with us. After a 5-0 win over Chievo on Sunday, in which Icardi was on target again, they moved a point clear of Napoli .

BMW plans to Expand Electric Vehicle Offerings with iX-badged SUVs
In November, it was reported that BMW had trademarked the iX3 nameplate for use in a fully electric version of the X3. We also hold the rights for BMW X - from iX1 to iX9'.