President Trump will make an announcement Wednesday that the United States is officially moving the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move sends the signal that Jerusalem is the official and undivided capital of Israel.
Trump has been working
the phones all day with allies and leaders in the region, who outside of
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyayu, urged him not to make the move.
During a call Tuesday
morning, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said moving the U.S. Embassy would
present a grave threat to Middle East peace after Trump reportedly confirmed
the move. Turkey has threatened to cut of all diplomatic ties to Israel in
response.
On the 2016 campaign
trail, Trump repeatedly promised to move the embassy. Earlier this year, Trump
visited Israeli on his first foreign trip as president and prayed at the
Western Wall. He was hosted by Netanyahu and his wife in their home.
Congress has already
voted to move the embassy through the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which the
President now plans to enforce.
U.S. government employees
in Israel have been warned not to travel to the West Bank and Old City as riots
from Palestinians have been planned.
