Israel plans to build a new railway “Donald Trump” in Jerusalem

Israel's transport minister is pushing ahead a plan to extend the fast railway line to Jerusalem, where he wants to appoint a station named after US President Donald Trump.

Yisrael Katz's proposal, which is in the initial phase of planning, includes the construction of two underground stations and the digging of more than three kilometers of tunnel under the center of Jerusalem and under the old politically and historically sensitive city, reports The Guardian”, broadcast Periscopi.

The Western Wall is the most sacred place where Jews can pray. A transport ministry spokesman, Avner Ovadia, said the project was estimated to cost more than $700m and, if approved, would take four years to complete.

Katz's office said the minister advanced the plan at a recent meeting with Israel's railway leaders and accelerated it on planning committees.

Katz said that a high-speed railway station would allow visitors to reach “the beating heart of the Jewish people: West Wall and Temple Mount”.

Trump's announcement has angered Palestinians and most of the Muslim world. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution last week rejecting recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, with several traditional American allies voting in favour of the motion.

The Western Wall's proposal is likely to face opposition from the international community, which does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem and the Old Town, which Israel conquered in 1967 and then annexed.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem and the Old Town, houses for Muslim, Christian and Jewish holy sites, as capital of a future state./Periscopi/