Prime News Ghana

World condemns Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital

By BBC
Donald Trump
Shares
facebook sharing button Share
twitter sharing button Tweet
email sharing button Email
sharethis sharing button Share

Traditional US allies are among a growing chorus condemning President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Saudi Arabia called it "unjustified and irresponsible", while France and the UK said they did not support the decision.

But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic day".

President Trump's move reversed decades of US policy. The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Donald Trump's move as "deplorable".

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are expected to hold a day of strikes and protests on Thursday.

The UN Security Council is to discuss the issue on Friday after eight of the 15 nations called for an emergency session. The Arab League is to meet on Saturday.

The US president said on Wednesday he had "judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians".

He said he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfills a campaign promise and appeals to Mr. Trump's right-wing base.

"Today, I am delivering," the US leader said.

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital was "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality", he added. "It is also the right thing to do."

He said the US still supported a two-state solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict if approved by both sides, which would essentially see the creation of an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel.

In response, Mr. Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful to President Trump.

"Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes, our dreams, our prayers for three millennia," he tweeted.

 Read also: US to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital in world first

 International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine observed in Ghana

www.primenewsghana.com/ Ghana News