Donald Trump prepares to reveal stance on Jerusalem
Middle Eastern leaders have urged him not to recognise the city as Israel’s capital

Donald Trump has been urged by a number of Middle Eastern leaders not to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ahead of a speech later today in which the US president is expected to announce his stance on the issue.
Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi has told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that any move by Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital would “trigger great anger in the Arab and Muslim world”, according to the BBC.
Many Arab countries say part of Jerusalem should be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly made a series of phone calls to world leaders to explain the dangers of accepting Israel’s claim to the city.
Publicly, he said: “Any American step related to the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, or moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, represents a threat to the future of the peace process and is unacceptable for the Palestinians, Arabs and internationally.”
Trump is due to decide on whether he will sign a new six-monthly waiver to the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which mandates the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, later today. During his presidential campaign, he made a promise to move the embassy.
“The suggestion that Trump could designate Jerusalem Israel’s capital was being touted as a step short of moving the embassy,” The Guardian says. “While largely symbolic, it is being fiercely opposed by a number of countries in the region.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Last night, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner said Trump was “still looking at a lot of different facts” regarding Jerusalem.
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Israel and the Gaza flotilla
The Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
The dark history of myths about immigrants eating swans and pets
In the Spotlight Nigel Farage has mimicked Donald Trump and peddled tropes and rumours that have long been used to ‘dehumanise’ immigrants
-
What would happen if Israel lost America’s support?
Today’s big question Loss of US backing could be a ‘catastrophe’ for Israel