Trump warns recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel

He will announce the controversial decision through a talk the following days.

Trump is also expected to approve the American Embassy's movement from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel welcomes the changes, but Palestinian and Arab leaders have warned that they will risk any peaceful process in the Middle East, reports “BBC”, report Periscope.

Saudi Arabia, a US ally, called the changes “a flagrant provocation to Muslims”.

Israel has always named Jerusalem its capital, while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the U.S. becomes the first country to do so since the founding of the state in 1948.

What has happened that the status of Jerusalem has become so controversial?

The issue goes to the heart of Israel's conflict with Palestinians, who are backed by Arabism and the wider Islamic world.

The city is home to major sacred religious sites for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.

Israel annexed the sector from Jordan after the Middle East war in 1967 and views the entire city as its capital as inseparable.

According to the 1993 Israeli-Palestinian peace accords, his final status should be discussed in the final stages of the talks.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally and all countries hold their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, with about 200,000 Jews, in eastern Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel opposes this.

Recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the United States can reinforce Israel's stance that settlements in the east are valid Israelite communities.

What's the U.S. proposal?

Trump administration officials said the recognition of Jerusalem was that Israeli capital was viewed as “as a recognition of reality” by the US government.

However, the city's particular borders would remain subject to an agreement on final status, the official said. The status of sacred sites would not be affected.

What makes Jerusalem so holy?

Trump would also lead the State Department to begin the process of moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump has pledged to pursue a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, led by his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kouchner.

An administration official said the new American policy for Jerusalem was not designed to favour Israel in this process.

U.S. government employees and their families have been banned from personal trips to the old city of Jerusalem and West Coast for security reasons ahead of expected protests.

The European Union and the Arab League have also expressed concern.

Jordan and Saudi Arabia are stewards of the holy sites of Islam and have issued strong warnings that this move could spark the Muslim world./Periscopi/