President Donald Trump has shattered decades of unwavering U. S. neutrality on Jerusalem.
The Latest on President Donald Trump’s decision on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (all times EST):
10:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump has shattered decades of unwavering U. S. neutrality on Jerusalem, declaring the sorely divided holy city as Israel’s capital and sparking frustrated Palestinians to cry out that he had destroyed already-fragile Mideast hopes for peace.
Trump insisted that after repeated peace failures it was past time for a new approach, starting with his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the seat of Israel’s government. He also said the United States would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though he set no timetable.
Harsh objections came from a wide array of presidents and prime ministers. No government beyond Israel spoke up in praise of Trump or suggested it would follow his lead.
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6:25 p.m.
Australia’s foreign minister says she is concerned that the U. S. decision to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem will increase tensions with the Palestinians.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tells the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she’s « concerned by any unilateral action by either side which could add to tensions. »
She adds, « The Australian government remains committed and optimistic that the way to achieve enduring peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is a negotiated two-state solution. »
She says Australia doesn’t intend to shift its embassy from Tel Aviv.
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5:35 p.m.
Eight countries opposed to President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital have asked for an emergency meeting of the U. N. Security Council this week.
Sweden’s U. N. Mission says the eight nations have asked Japan, this month’s council president, to have Secretary-General Antonio Guterres brief the 15 council members.
The eight council nations that requested the meeting are Bolivia, Egypt, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden, United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Guterres said after Trump’s announcement that the issue must be resolved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and warned that « unilateral measures » can jeopardize prospects for peace.
In a resolution adopted last December the council said it « will not recognize any changes to the June 4,1967, lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations. »
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4 p.m.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is opposing U. S. President Donald Trump’s decision on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
In a tweet Wednesday directed at Trump, Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert quotes Merkel saying, « The German government doesn’t support this stance, because the status of Jerusalem must be negotiated within the framework of a two-state solution. »
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3:50 p.m.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says U. S. President Donald Trump’s recognition doesn’t automatically make Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
Cavusoglu said Wednesday in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, that « with one announcement by a country, Jerusalem cannot be the capital of Israel. »
Cavusoglu adds, « You can’t come out and say, ‘I’m a great power, I can do what I want.’
« There can be no understanding under which one can say I made such an announcement and it will become reality, » Cavusoglu insists.
He says « the whole world opposes it and it is wrong. »
Cavusoglu also describes Trump’s move as a « dangerous step, » adding, « we would have wished that this decision were never taken. »
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3:45 p.m.
U. S. ally Jordan has slammed President Donald Trump’s recognition of contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying it stokes anger in the region and violates U. S. resolutions.
The pro-Western kingdom has a special stake in the city whose Israeli-annexed eastern sector is sought by the Palestinians as a future capital.
Jordan has a large population of Palestinian origin and Jordan’s King Abdullah II serves as guardian of the third holiest site of Islam, located in east Jerusalem.
The monarch is to meet Thursday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan to coordinate a response.
Government spokesman Mohammed Momani said Wednesday that Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem pre-empts the outcome of future peace negotiations, « fuels anger and provokes the feelings of Muslims and Christians. »
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3:40 p.m.
The European Union says it has « serious concern » about the impact of the U. S. President Donald Trump’s decision on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on the future of the peace process.
The EU said Wednesday its position « remains unchanged » and wants the status of Jerusalem « as the future capital of both states » to be settled through negotiations.
The 28-nation EU called for restraint and calm to stave off any escalation.
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3:30 p.m.
Palestinians have taken to the streets in the Gaza Strip to protest the decision by President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Dozens of angry youths burned tires in spontaneous protests at several locations Wednesday after Trump’s declaration.
The Islamic militant group Hamas has called for more protests over the coming days. Hamas controls Gaza, and the U. S. and the European Union consider it a terrorist organization
Trump’s announcement breaks with decades of U. S. foreign policy.
It brought warnings from leaders in the Mideast and elsewhere that the move could inflame tensions in the volatile Mideast and complicate Mideast peace efforts.
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3:05 p.m.
U. S. embassies in the Middle East and Europe are warning Americans traveling or living there of the potential for violent protests after President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Within minutes of Trump’s announcement, the embassies in Turkey, Jordan, Germany and Britain issued security alerts urging Americans to exercise vigilance and caution. Other embassies are expected to follow suit.
The U. S. Embassy in Ankara says it expects protests to take place near its location as well as the consulates in Istanbul and Adana.
The U. S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, says it would close to the public on Thursday and has banned employees from leaving the capital. The children of embassy employees have been told to stay home from school and all Americans there are advised to keep a low profile.
U. S. Embassies in Berlin, London and Minsk, Belarus issued identical warnings.
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3 p.m.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says President Donald Trump made a « bold move » by implementing a U. S. law that has long called for the American Embassy in Israel to move to Jerusalem.
Tillerson is in Germany for a brief stop and made the comment as he met with U. S. military commanders. Earlier in the day, Trump said he was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Tillerson says planning for a Jerusalem embassy will start immediately — and that includes picking a site. But he says building the embassy will take time.
There’s opposition in the Arab world to Trump’s decision, and Tillerson says the State Department has taken necessary precautions to ensure the safety of U. S. personnel in the region.
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2:35 p.m.
Egypt has denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.
Egypt was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel — that came in 1979.
A Foreign Ministry statement says Trump’s decision is a violation of international resolutions on the city’s status.
The statement says Egypt is worried about the impact of the U. S. move on the stability of the region and about its « extremely negative » impact on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
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2:30 p.m.
The Palestinian leader says President Donald Trump has destroyed his credibility as a Mideast peace broker after recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD’ ah-BAHS’) says in a televised statement that Trump’s decision « is a declaration of withdrawal from the role it has played in the peace process. »
Trump’s Mideast peace team has held months of meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders for nearly a year ahead of an expected peace proposal.
By recognizing Israel’s claim to Jerusalem, Trump is seen by the Palestinians as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem — which Israel captured in 1967 — for their capital.
Abbas says the Palestinian leadership will meet in the coming days and consult with Arab leaders to formulate a response.
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2:15 p.m.
France’s leader says President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is « a regrettable decision that France does not approve. »
Emmanuel Macron says Trump’s decision « contravenes international law and U.
