The U.S. will officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begin the process of moving its embassy there from Tel Aviv, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, making good on a campaign promise that critics fear could shut the door on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and ignite fresh violence in the region.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious: That Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Trump said. “This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.”
He also said the U.S. still wanted to see a peace agreement and would not take a position on “the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump in a pre-recorded statement. Hamas is promising to open “the gates of hell,” but they always say that.
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