Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in reversal of policy

WASHINGTON/ANKARA

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy on Dec. 6 and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite warnings from around the world that the gesture further drives a wedge between Israel and the Palestinians.

In a speech at the White House, Trump said his administration would also begin a process of moving the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is expected to take years.

Trump called his decision a "a long overdue" step to advance the peace process.

"I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Trump said.

"While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering," he said.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated: "We condemn the irresponsible statement of the US Administration that we learnt with great concern, declaring that it recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and it will be moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem."

"This decision is against international law and relevant UN Resolutions, as the annexation of Jerusalem by Israel has been rejected by international community and the UN," it said.

"The said decision, that will have negative reflections on the peace and stability in the region, also bears the risk of completely destroying the ground for peace. We call upon the US Administration to reconsider this faulty decision which may result in highly negative outcomes and to avoid uncalculated steps that will harm the multicultural identity and historical status of Jerusalem," the ministry added.

Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın also said the decision was "null and void" for Turkey.

“It is frankly a ridiculous assessment that the American authority described this as a contribution to peace.”

"This is an attempt to legalize the actual situation that would abolish all peace initiatives, and it is aimed at opening deep wounds in the Middle East," Kalın added.

"We condemn the irresponsible statement of the US Administration declaring that it recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and it will be moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu wrote on his Twitter account.

“This decision is against international law and relevant UN Resolutions," he said.

EU Minister Ömer Çelik also denounced the move, calling it a “provocation.”

"Trump and Netanyahu's decision, which will put the world to face fresh conflicts, to overcome their political difficulties is totally provocation to hopes of peace,” Çelik tweeted.

“The whole world must condemn Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem,” Çelik underlined.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ also said the U.S. and its president who made this decision will be the first responsible for any kind of negative developments in the region afterwards.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also denounced the decision and said: “Trump put a bomb in the middle of Jerusalem. Deeply wounded us, the Middle East, deeply wounded everybody who was desperate for peace.”

He also said that they will support Palestinian brothers and sisters in their rightful fight, till the end.