Trump declares Jerusalem Israel’s capital

Washington  : In a move potentially threatening regional stability and ditching long-time US policy, Donal Trump, the US President, yesterday announced his decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move US embassy there. 

"I have determined that it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Trump said from the White House.

"It's the right thing to do."

"Many presidents have said they want to do something and they didn't do it," Trump said in the hours leading up to his historic address.

"Whether it's courage or they changed their mind, I can't tell you," he said. "I think it's long overdue."

According to a senior administration official, it will take at least three to four years for the US to be physically present at Jerusalem as they don’t have an embassy building there. 

In fact, no other country in the world has its embassy in Jerusalem.

According to Reuters, Trump will sign a waiver delaying a physical move. 

The decision was taken despite warnings from Western and Arab allies about the dangerous repercussions of the move. 

Hundreds of Palestinians burned US and Israeli flags as well as pictures of Trump in the Gaza Strip, while relatively small clashes erupted near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.

Palestinians called for three days of protests — or "days of rage" — starting Wednesday.

Anticipating protests, US government officials and their families were ordered to avoid Jerusalem's Old City and the West Bank, though the situation remained largely calm Wednesday.