The status of Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming the city as their capital. With Trump’s decision looming, leaders from across the Middle East and elsewhere ramped up public warnings against any shift in decades-old US policy. “The president’s going to make his decision,” his Middle East peace envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner said. “If the status of Jerusalem is changed and another step is taken… that would be a major catastrophe,” Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said. In 1995, the US Congress passed the so-called Jerusalem Embassy Act recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and stating that the US embassy should be moved there.

Source: The Express Tribune December 05, 2017 04:52 UTC