LIVE: Calls for Palestinian uprising after Trump's Jerusalem move
After 70 years, Donald Trump did on Wednesday what no previous US president has done – recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The announcement has sparked anger and protest across the Middle East while being welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and supporters of Israel.
Leaders in Gaza and the West Bank have called for a strong response, with protests in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli soldiers were deployed in anticipation of unrest.
We’ll be bringing you live updates here.
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Photo: Protesters shout slogans and wave the Jordanian flag during a protest near the American Embassy in Amman against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 7, 2017. (AFP)
Live Updates
The Chinese government has expressed concern over America's decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
"We are concerned by Trump's intention to recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel," said a spokesperson.
"This decision might lead to an escalation."
In the run-up to Trump's announcement later today, the Jerusalem municipality has hung American and Israeli flags in front of the US consulate in West Jerusalem.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jordan's King Abdullah II discussed the impending US decision on the status of Jerusalem in Ankara.
Erdogan called for an urgent meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on 13 December.
King Abdullah II said that "the Palestinian case continues to be the region's central issue - there is no alternative to two-state solution and Jerusalem is key to any peace agreement, and it is key to the stability of the entire region".
He added that Jordan is "the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites - we will persist in undertaking our religious and historical responsibilities toward Al-Aqsa mosque and Al-Haram Al-Shareef".
Labour's shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry issued a statement on Wednesday calling on the British government to "unequivocally condemn" Trump's plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Earlier this year, Thornberry told MEE that Britain should commemorate the Balfour Declaration by recognising Palestine.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sent a message to Israel that he wanted to move his country’s embassy to the capital, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster reported on Wednesday.
Duterte, who has been widely criticised for mass extrajudicial killings, announced in May that he was planning to visit Israel.
More from Gaza. The Fursan al-Fateh Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said that "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine" and warned that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem "will add more fuel on the fire".
"This move will have bad consequences on US and Israel interests in the region," militiamen said in a statement filmed earlier on Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said she intended to speak to US President Donald Trump about the status of Jerusalem, which she said should be determined as part of a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
May said the ancient city should ultimately be shared between Israel and a future Palestinian state. She said there should be a sovereign and viable Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.
"I'm intending to speak to President Trump about this matter," May said. "The status of Jerusalem should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
"Jerusalem should ultimately form a shared capital between the Israeli and Palestinian states."
While protests have broken out in Gaza, the reaction in Jerusalem thus far appears to be more muted.
That could all change, of course, once Trump makes his announcement official.
Richard N Haas is president of the Council on Foreign Relations
The international community has warned that recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital is a move that could lead to further violence.
While Egyptian President Sisi urged Trump to "not complicate the situation" further, Saudi Arabia described the move as a "dangerous step" that could anger Muslims globally.
Read the international reaction in full here...
President Donald Trump is "very committed" to the Middle East peace process, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday amid global alarm at a US plan to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Tillerson said the US believes "there is a very good opportunity for peace to be achieved" between Israel and the Palestinians, despite international outcry over Trump's decision on Jerusalem.
"The president is very committed to the Middle East peace process," Tillerson told reporters at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
He said a small team led by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been "engaged in a quiet way" in the region to try to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
"We continue to believe there is a very good opportunity for peace to be achieved and the president has a team that is devoted to that entirely," Tillerson said.
From acting presidential to appeasing his supporter base, James Reinl goes through the four possible theories behind Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
