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Trump recognises Jerusalem as Isreal capital; Twitter is divided

Catch Team | Updated on: 7 December 2017, 15:27 IST
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US President Donald Trump made a stunning announcement that the US will recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal. Twitter users are a divided lot
Hours after Trump's announcement that the US will recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal protests broke out in Turkey, Jordan, West Bank and Gaza

United States President Donald Trump is as defiant as ever. He has disregarded global opposition and gone ahead with recognising Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. This could potentially reverse 70 years of America's Middle East policy. Furthermore, Trump has insisted that the controversial move will not affect his administration's goal of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The US embassy will now be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Officials have told the press that this process will take up to three years. “I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said. “While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering.

“My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Within hours of Trump's announcement, US embassies across several - Great Britain, Germany, Jordan and Turkey - issued security alerts and urged caution.

On Friday, the United Nations Security Council is likely to meet. They will be discussing the move made by Trump. This comes on the heels of a request from eight countries of the 15-member body.

Trump didn't rule out a further division. “We are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved".

Following the announcement, there were major protests across various cities.

Global leaders condemn the move

“In this moment of great anxiety, I want to make it clear – there is no alternative to the two-state solution,” Guterres continued. “There is no plan B.” Even Pope Francis got in the act. Francis made a plea to Trump to respect status quo and conform to the UN resolutions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan adopted a tough stance on Trump's announcement. The Turkish foreign minister said the US was making a "grave mistake".

French President Emmanuel Macron was the first of the Western leaders to condemn the move.

Thereafter, British Prime Minister Theresa May joined in, calling the move, "“unhelpful in terms of the prospects for peace in the region”.

Jewish organisations are happy

Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed the day as "historic".

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) congratulated Trump and said, “his historic change of U.S. government policy toward the status of Jerusalem – the ancient and current capital of Israel and the Jewish People.". National Council of Young Israel, American Jewish Congress and others praised the move.

Citizens of the world divided

Twitter users were divided. Some hailed the move and some were disappointed in the United States is the only country to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal.

First published: 7 December 2017, 15:27 IST