U.S. President Donald Trump notified Arab leaders that he intends to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.While Trump is expected to delay the move, he will address the details of the relocation and could likely recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a speech this week. The U.S. State Department issued warnings to embassies worldwide to prepare for potential protests. The Arab League and Palestinians warned the United States against relocating the embassy, saying that the move would hinder any future peace negotiations and could lead to a new wave of violence.
A 1995 law requires the relocation of the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, but provides the president with the prerogative to postpone the move every six months on national security grounds. Each of Trump’s three immediate predecessors — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — repeatedly exercised that right.
A presidential declaration could risk producing an angry response from the Palestinians and other Arab allies, like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, just as the Trump White House is preparing to move forward with its attempts to broker a Mideast peace accord.
