Jerusalem - live updates: Clashes in Jerusalem, Gaza and West Bank as global outrage at Trump decision mounts
Despite warnings from Arab, Muslim and Western allies, President upends decades of US policy
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Your support makes all the difference.A defiant Donald Trump abruptly broke decades of US foreign policy on Wednesday after officially recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in a move that sparked protests across the region and led to condemnation from around the globe.
The President also instructed his State Department to begin the three-year process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city, calling the twin move "a step to advance the peace process" between Israel and the Palestinians.
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.
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The leader of Hamas has now called for a new uprising against Israel in light of Mr Trump's decision.
"We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy," Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech from Gaza on Thursday. There have been clashes between police in occupied Gaza, the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem.
Mr Trump acted under a 1995 law that requires the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem. His predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama, had consistently put off that decision to avoid inflaming tensions in the Middle East.
A Palestinian envoy said Mr Trump's decision was a declaration of war in the Middle East while Pope Francis called for Jerusalem's status quo to be respected, saying new tension would further inflame world conflicts.
China and Russia expressed concern that the plans could aggravate Middle East hostilities. The United States has never endorsed the Israel's claim of sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem and has insisted its status be resolved through Israeli-Palestinian negotiation.
Any US declaration on Jerusalem's status ahead of a peace deal "would harm peace negotiation process and escalate tension in the region," Saudi Arabia's King Salman told Mr Trump, according to a Saudi readout of their telephone conversation.
Declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the King said, "would constitute a flagrant provocation to all Muslims, all over the world."
In his calls to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II, Mr Trump delivered what appeared to be identical messages of intent.
Both leaders warned him moving the embassy would threaten peace efforts and security and stability in the Middle East and the world, according to statements from their offices.
Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the head of the Arab League, urged the US to reconsider any recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, warning of "repercussions."
Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told his Parliament such recognition was a "red line" for Muslims and said Turkey could respond by cutting diplomatic ties with Israel.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, said he reminded Mr Trump in a phone call that Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations on setting up an independent Palestine alongside Israel.
Meeting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said actions undermining peace efforts "must be absolutely avoided."
Additional reporting by agencies
"We are very clear on our position, we disagree with it," Mr Burt says.
Mr Burt refuses to rule out a state visit from Donald Trump in light of the UN President's move. "An invitation has been extended," he says.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake asks if it is time for the British Government to recognise Palestine. Mr Burt says it "should be done at the time that is best for the prospects of peace".
Ben Bradshaw, a Labour MP, says Britain has an historic role in the region and asks is it not time that Britain honours a 2014 vote and recognises Palestine.
The US is removed as an "honest broker", Labour MP Andrew Slaughter says. What plans does the UK Government have to move forward, he asks.
Mr Burt acknowledges the US's role will now be "affected" and that it now has a "trust deficit". He says it is up to other nations to fill that role.
Bob Blackman, a Tory MP, says Mr Trump's move could "actually be a good decision" as it may help talks between the two parties move forward.
According to Politico, a source close to the administration says Donald Trump and Jared Kushner expect a "few days of riots" following the decision.
“I think [Trump] and Jared figure that after all the posturing and a few days of riots, things go back to normal when it comes to the negotiations,” said a person close to the administration," the source said.
Russia's ambassador to Israel says its stance on Jerusalem is unchanged and considers west Jerusalem to be Israel's capital.
He suggested Russia could move its embassy to the city too, but only once a peace deal is struck between Israeli's and Palestinians.
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