President Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

President Donald Trump has recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

He describes the move as “a long overdue step” to advance the Middle East peace process.
With this Trump has succeeded in overturning decades of official US policy.
The President said he was directing the US State Department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
While Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr Trump’s announcement as an “historic landmark”, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that with the move, the US was making a “declaration of withdrawal” from its mediation role during the peace process.

Palestinian militant organisation Hamas called for “day of rage” protests over the announcement and said that President Trump had committed a “flagrant aggression against the Palestinian people”.