Contents 

I.consequences of united States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel

1 Background……………………………………………………...………………1
2 Announcement ………………………………………………………………….1
2.1 State Department remarks……………………………………………..1
2.2 American domestic reactions …………………………………………1
2.2.1 Former US ambassadors to Israel……………………………1
2.2.2 American Christian organizations……………………………2
2.2.3 American Jewish organizations………………………………2
2.2.4 Other American groups………………………………………2
3 Israeli and Palestinian responses ………………………………………………..3
3.1 Israel……………………………………………………………………3
3.2 Palestinian Authority and Hamas………………………………….…..3
3.3 Christian churches based in Jerusalem…………………………………4
4 International response …………………………………………………….……..4
4.1 United Nations …………………………………………………………4
4.1.1 Pre-announcement……………………………………………4
4.1.2 Security Council…………………………………….………..4
4.1.3 General Assembly……………………………………………5
4.2 Europe ……………………………………………………….………..5
4.2.1 European Union…………………………………….………..5
4.2.2 European political parties………………………….………..5
4.3 Arab and Muslim world ……………………………………...……….5
4.3.1 Jihadist movements…………………………………………6
4.4 China…………………………………………………………..………6
4.5 Other…………………………………………………………………..6
5 Demonstrations and violence …………………………………………………..7
6 Relocation of the Embassy to Jerusalem…………………………….………….7

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I.consequences of united States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel
1.Background
During the 2016 US Presidential election, one of Trump's campaign promises was to move the US
embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which he described as the "eternal capital of the Jewish
people." On June 1, 2017, Trump signed a waiver on the Jerusalem Embassy Act, delaying the move of
the US embassy to Jerusalem for another six months, as had every president before him since 1995. The
White House stated that this would help them negotiate a deal between Israel and Palestine, and that the
promised move would come at a later time.

2. Announcement
On December 6, 2017 President Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stated
that the American embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In his statement Donald Trump
did not mention East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, but he did say that United
States recognition did not resolve the dispute over Jerusalem's borders. President Trump explicitly stated
his support for maintaining the status quo of the holy sites within the Old City. Following the
announcement, Trump signed the waiver, delaying the move by at least another six months.
Following Trump's announcement, American embassies in Turkey, Jordan, Germany and Britain issued
security alerts for Americans traveling or living in those countries. The United States also issues a general
warning for Americans abroad about the possibility of violent protests. The American consulate in
Jerusalem has restricted travel of government employees to Jerusalem's Old City. The US Embassy in
Jordan banned employees from leaving the capital and children of embassy employees were told to stay
home from school.

2.1 State Department remarks

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later clarified that the President's statement "did not indicate any final
status for Jerusalem" and "was very clear that the final status, including the borders, would be left to the
two parties to negotiate and decide." State Department officials said on December 8 that there will not be
any immediate practical changes in how the US deals with Jerusalem, including its policy of not listing a
country on the passports of citizens born in Jerusalem.
When asked what country the Western Wall is in, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said
"We're not taking any position on the overall boundaries. We are recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel."

2.2 American domestic reactions

2.2.1 Former US ambassadors to Israel
Out of 11 former US ambassadors to Israel, nine were critical of Trump's policy change. Ogden R. Reid
who served as an ambassador to Israel from 1959 to 1961 was one of the exceptions saying, "I think it's
the right decision." Edward S. Walker Jr. who served from 1997 to 1999 also supported recognition of
Jerusalem as Israel's capital: "It's really a question of what are the lines, the borders, to be drawn around
the state of Israel and the ultimate state of Palestine." Daniel C. Kurtzer noted America's international
isolation in his remarks and Richard H. Jones expressed concerns that moving the embassy would fuel
further violence. A number of former ambassadors, such as Martin S. Indyk stated that they were open to

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recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, provided Israel would agree to slow settlement
construction and recognize East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

2.2.2 American Christian organizations

American Christian organizations were divided: the National Council of Churches (NCC) which
represents 38 different denominations issued a statement saying the change in policy was likely to
exacerbate regional conflict and cost lives, while the Liberty Counsel, a right wing evangelical
organization supported the decision. The move had been supported by many conservative American
evangelical organizations and leaders including American Christian Leaders for Israel, Jerry Falwell, and
Mike Huckabee. Johnnie Moore, one of Trump's evangelical advisers, said the announcement fulfilled a
campaign promise to Trump's evangelical voter base. It was also welcomed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein,
the founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

2.2.3 American Jewish organizations

The majority of prominent American Jewish organizations welcomed the move, including the Conference
of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which comprises 51 national Jewish
organizations, as well as by a number of its member organizations: AIPAC, the Jewish Federations of
North America, the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah, the Union of
Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the National Council of Young Israel. The Conservative
Movement's US, Israel and global branches also welcomed US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel. Orthodox Union, the US' largest umbrella organization representing Orthodox Jews, thanked
Trump for "beginning the process of relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem."
The Anti-Defamation League said recognition was "important and long overdue", while continuing to
express support for a two state solution. AIPAC expressed its support for an "undivided Jerusalem" but
also said that relocating the American embassy to Jerusalem would not "prejudge the outcome of the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process". Morton Klein, who heads the Zionist Organization of America, said
that Trump was "finally recognizing the obvious". The Simon Wiesenthal Center said Trump's
announcement "will right an historic wrong".The announcement was also welcomed by the Republican
Jewish Coalition.
The Reform Jewish movement called it "ill-timed" and said it would "exacerbate the conflict", but also
declared that "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel" and that they
"share the President's belief that the US embassy should, at the right time, be moved from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem." The Jewish Democratic Council of America similarly expressed support for Israel as an
undivided capital, but criticized Trump for neglecting to "meaningfully support peace between
Palestinians and Israelis." Left-wing Mideast policy group J Street said the timing was "premature and
divisive". J Street, New Israel Fund, and progressive Zionist organization Ameinu expressed concerns
that the move would undermine Middle East peace efforts and could lead to violence.

2.2.4 Other American groups

In December 2017, more than 130 Jewish studies scholars from across North America criticized the
Trump administration's decision, calling on the U.S. government to take actions to de-escalate the
tensions and "clarify Palestinians' legitimate stake in the future of Jerusalem." According to Haaretz,
many of these scholars have been critical of the Trump administration and the current Israeli government.

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American Muslim civil advocacy groups rejected the policy change, including the Council on American-
Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). On December 5, Muslim,
Interfaith and human rights groups held a protest outside the White House.

3. Israeli and Palestinian responses

3.1 Israel
On December 6, shortly after Trump's statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the
announcement was a "historic landmark" and praised the decision as "courageous and just". During his
remarks Netanyahu said there is "no peace that doesn't include Jerusalem as the capital of the State of
Israel", adding that Jerusalem has "been the capital of Israel for nearly 70 years".He later said that he has
heard condemnation about the announcement but has "not heard any condemnation for the rocket firing
against Israel that has come and the awful incitement against us".
The announcement was well received by Knesset members of left, right and centre parties including Yesh
Atid, Bayit Yehudi, Yisrael Beytenu, and Likud. Isaac Herzog called it an "act of historic justice" but also
added that the next step was to "realize the vision of two states". In contrast, Bezalel Smotrich of the
religious zionist Bayit Yehudi party issued the following statement: "For 30 years we have fallen into the
pit of the Palestinian state as a realistic solution. The time has come to rethink things". Avi Gabbay, who
was recently elected to lead the Zionist Union, also supported Trump's announcement, saying that
recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is more important then a peace deal.
Israel's Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism party said building in "parts of
Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem that need housing would be better than a declaration that means
nothing". Yisrael Eichler, also of UTJ, expressed similar views saying he would "rather have 1,000 homes
for young couples in Jerusalem than one American embassy building." In contrast, left-wing party Meretz
said recognition of Jerusalem should only come with the establishment of a Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem as its capital, adding that Trump's declaration "de facto betrays the Zionist vision and the
values on which the State of Israel was established".
Hanin Zoabi and Ayman Odeh, both members of the United Arab List party, said the US could no longer
act as a peace mediator. Odeh said that "Trump is a pyromaniac and will set the entire region ablaze with
his madness".

3.2 Palestinian Authority and Hamas

Palestinian officials said the announcement disqualifies the United States from peace talks. Palestinian
prime minister Rami Hamdallah said the policy change "destroys the peace process".Palestinian president
Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech where he said the decision meant the United States was "abdicating its
role as a peace mediator".Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki similarly said the United States
could no longer act as a mediator in the peace process because it had become a party to the dispute.
Adnan al-Husayni asked the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of
Palestine.
Hamas called for a new intifada, but very few Palestinians responded to the calls.
Palestinian protests of the December announcement were held in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the
Gaza Strip. The Israel military estimated that 3,000 people in the West Bank and 4,500 in the Gaza Strip
participated in protests on December 8, 2017.
Palestinians burned portraits and effigies of Donald Trump and tore pictures of Salman bin Abdulaziz and
Muhammad bin Salman in protest of the embassy move.

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The Jerusalem announcement inspired activist Ahmed Abu Artema to write a Facebook proposing the
outlines of the Great March of Return protests. Multiple camps of Palestinians engaged in protest along
the fenceline of the Gaza Strip as part of this effort in late March 2018, demanding the right of Palestinian
refugees and their descendants to return to their former homes in Israel, and an end to the blockade of the
Gaza Strip, as well as rejecting recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The opening of the US
embassy in Jerusalem on May 14 coincided with a major escalation of the protests, resulting in the death
of 64 protesters on that day.

3.3 Christian churches based in Jerusalem

On December 6, 2017, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theophilos III,
widely regarded as the most senior Christian figure in Jerusalem, and twelve other church leaders in the
Holy Land sent a letter to Trump warning that his move “would yield increased hatred, conflict, violence
and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper
toward destructive division”. Apart from Theophilos III, the letter was signed by heads of Jerusalem's
Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopioan and Coptic Orthodox patriarchates as well as the Roman Catholic Church′s
Apostolic Administrator for Jerusalem (the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem). It was also signed by the
Franciscan Order, the Greek-Melkite-Catholic patriarchate, the Maronites, the Episcopal Church, the
Armenian Catholic and Syrian Catholic churches and the Evangelical Lutherans.

4. International response
Trump's Jerusalem decision was widely condemned by world leaders. European US allies that objected
include Britain, Germany, Italy and France. Romania, on the other hand, declined to follow the EU
position and also indicated it may relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.
Pope Francis also made a plea that all nations remain committed to "respecting the status quo" of the city.
China urged caution regarding the potential escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

4.1United Nations
4.1.1 Pre-announcement
Shortly before Trump's announcement, in November 2017, the United Nations General Assembly voted
151-6 to deny Israeli ties to Jerusalem, with 9 abstentions. The resolution was part of six anti-Israel
resolutions it approved on the same day, and called for "respect for the historic status quo at the holy
places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, in word and practice” and stated that “any actions
taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City
of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever.” These words fall in
line with similar resolutions approved in 2015 and 2016 by UNESCO, including the resolution’s omission
of the title “Temple Mount,” using instead only the Arabic term for the site, “Haram al-Sharif.”

4.1.2 Security Council

The United Nations Security Council vote on 7 December to condemn Trump's decision failed due to a
veto by the United States, despite the support of the remaining fourteen members of the Council. The
emergency meeting was requested by Bolivia, Britain, Egypt, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden and
Uruguay. US envoy Nikki Haley called the United Nations "one of the world's foremost centers of
hostility towards Israel".Britain, France, Sweden, Italy and Japan were among the countries who criticized

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Trump's decision at the emergency meeting. On 18 December, a Security Council resolution calling for
the withdrawal of the recognition was vetoed by the United States, for a tally of 14–1.

4.1.3 General Assembly

Main article: United Nations General Assembly resolution ES-10/L.22
On 21 December 2017, the General Assembly voted for Resolution ES-10/L.22 by 128–9, with 35
abstentions and 21 absences, to condemn the US declaration on the status of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
and enjoin other states to refrain from setting up diplomatic offices in Jerusalem. None of the United
States' NATO allies opposed the resolution, with 25 of 29 voting for it.

4.2 Europe
4.2.1 European Union
The European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini emphasized that all governments of EU
member states were united on the issue of Jerusalem, and reaffirmed their commitment to a Palestinian
State with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mogherini said that embassies should not be moved to Jerusalem
while the final status of the city was disputed. She also noted that Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem
was considered a violation of international law under a 1980 United Nations Security Council resolution.
On December 11, Mogherini said that European nations would not move their embassies to Jerusalem
The EU countries of Austria, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic however defied the official EU
stance and attended the official reception on the opening of the US embassy in Jeruslem. In addition, the
non-EU European countries of Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine also attended the opening.

4.2.2 European political parties

Trump's recognition of Jerusalem did receive some European support from anti-Islam politicians. Czech
President Miloš Zeman said the European response was "cowardly". Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch
anti-Islam party Party for Freedom, said that "all freedom loving countries should move their embassy to
Jerusalem" and affirmed his support for an undivided Jerusalem. Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the
Austrian Freedom Party, similarly stated his wish to relocate the Austrian embassy to Jerusalem.

4.3 Arab and Muslim world

King Salman of Saudi Arabia said that moving the American embassy to Jerusalem would be a "flagrant
provocation" to Muslims. Saudi Arabia and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi both expressed
similar concerns about the viability of the peace process. The Jordanian government said Trump had
violated international law and the UN charter. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Israel a
"terrorist state".
On December 10, The Arab League held an emergency meeting in Cairo. After the meeting, the League's
Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit issued a statement saying the change in US policy was "against
international law and "amounts to the legalization" of Israeli occupation. Gheit also questioned US
commitment to the peace process.
Iran said the U.S. announcement was in violation of international resolutions and could spark a "new
intifada". Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the policy change would derail the peace process. Qatar's
Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani called it "a death sentence for all who seek
peace".Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the decision and asked the US to "reconsider the

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decision". Malaysian PM Najib Razak similarly did so, stating that "we strongly oppose any recognition
of Jerusalem as Israel's capital for all time".
On December 13, 2017, during an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting held in Istanbul,
more than 50 Muslim majority countries rejected and condemned Trump's decision by passing the
Istanbul Declaration on Freedom for al Quds ("Jerusalem" in Arabic) and calling for the worldwide
recognition of "an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its occupied capital". Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas stated at the summit that the United States is no longer fit to participate in the
Middle East peace process because of its bias and cannot be accepted as a "fair negotiator". While the
summit did not produce any concrete sanctions against Israel or the United States, The New York Times
called the declaration "the strongest response yet" to Trump's decision.
Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria cancelled a meeting with U.S. Vice
President Mike Pence in protest of the American decision. The Coptic Church issued a statement that
Trump's decision "did not take into account the feelings of millions of Arab people".

4.3.1 Jihadist movements

Jihadist movements from around the world responded with calls for armed struggle: Al-Qaeda in North
Africa issued a statement exhorting all fighters to make the liberation of Palestine their central goal.
Kashmiri group Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind called on Muslims worldwide to attack embassies of the US and
Israel as well as harm the financial interests of both countries. The Egyptian Hasm Movement called for
an uprising. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called on Muslims to support Palestinians with money
and weaponry. The Taliban in Afghanistan called the US move "anti-Muslim bigotry".Somalia-based Al-
Shabaab exhorted Muslims to respond with weapons.
The Taliban and Shia extremist leaders likewise expressed their opposition. ISIL issued a response on
December 8, which mainly focused on criticizing other jihadist groups and Arab leaders. They accused
rival groups of politicizing the conflict to serve personal agendas and argued for the defeat of Israel's
Arab neighbours who, according to ISIL, "surround [Israel] the same way a bracelet surrounds the wrist,
protecting the Jews from the strikes of the mujahideen."

4.4 China
China has historically supported an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and
said that this position remains unchanged in the aftermath of Trump's announcement. Following the
announcement, Chinese state media aired lengthy broadcasts emphasizing Palestinian opposition to it and
lack of support for the move among America's European allies. Chinese news reports also stressed the
risk of "instability and uncertainty" in the Middle East. Some analysts have argued that moving the
embassy could push Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians in final status negotiations. The
Chinese embassy issued an alert to travellers regarding the increasingly complicated and intense safety
conditions in Israel after the announcement.

4.5 Other
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro defined the announcement on national television before travelling
to Istanbul to preside a Non-Alligned Movement summit to discuss the position as "an illegal declaration,
absolutely illegal, I would say irrational. A true provocation, a war declaration to the Arab people, to the
Muslim people"

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Following the announcement, right-wing Zionist organization World Betar called for international
recognition of the Temple Mount, Nablus and Hebron.
On December 24, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said that his country would relocate its embassy
to Jerusalem.
Several national governments responded directly to the opening of the United States Embassy in
Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. Japan and Malaysia were among those expressing concern that the relocation
could escalate tensions, while Russia and Venezuela added that the move contradicted existing
international agreements.

5 Demonstrations and violence

Protests were held in many places across the world during the weekend of December 16 and 17. Crowds
in the United States, Pakistan, Netherlands, Germany, Lebanon, Jordan, Australia, Montenegro, Iran,
Morocco, Poland, United Kingdom, Greece and Indonesia gathered to protest against the decision.[

6 Relocation of the Embassy to Jerusalem

In February 2018, the U.S. government made it known that it would open its embassy in the building of
the U.S. consulate′s compound in Jerusalem′s southern neighbourhood of Arnona in May that year,
thereby bringing president Donald Trump’s plan to do so forward by about a year. The move was
scheduled to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.
The U.S. delegation attending the embassy dedication ceremony on 14 May 2018 included the Trump
administration′s officials Steven Mnuchin, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as well as Robert Jeffress
and John Hagee.
Congressmen from both parties praised the move; Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
said the move was "long overdue". Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz traveled to
Jerusalem to attend the U.S. Embassy opening. The relocation happened during an escalation of the Gaza
border protests and caused international condemnation.

Source:-
https://en.wikipedia.org