Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Donald Trump’s presidential victory was based, in no small part, on campaign promises he made during the election period.  One such promise was to reform the U.S. tax code, a challenge that lawmakers have been working on since the inauguration.  Though many politicians make promises just to get elected, Trump seems keen on keeping his word, and as such, in calls with Middle Eastern leaders including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Arab leaders, Trump has announced his intention to eventually move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and to immediately recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  A formal announcement is expected later today. There are no other countries that have established their embassies in Jerusalem. It’s worth noting that the recognition will not necessarily imply an acceptance of Israeli sovereignty over the eastern half of the City, which was held by Jordan from 1948 to 1967.

In response to Trump’s comments, Palestinian national and Islamic groups have called for three days of “popular anger” in protest, and have vowed that the move would irrevocably undermine the Middle East “peace process”. 

The move is expected to take ‘several years’, though skeptics are uncertain as to why it will take so long.