Latest: Trump speech on Jerusalem

"Trump’s error on Jerusalem is a disaster for the Arab world … and the US too", writes Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor of Arab studies at Columbia University, in this opinion piece in the Guardian.

Eight of the 15 nations who are currently members of the UN Security Council have called for the body to hold an urgent meeting on the US decision by the end of the week.

The request for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to publicly brief the Council was made by France, Bolivia, Egypt, Italy, Senegal, Sweden, Britain and Uruguay, said diplomats.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, says that America has its embassies in capital cities all over the world - and "now Israel will be no different", adding: "It was the just and right thing to do."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel "does not support" the US president's decision, her spokesman says.

"The German government does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem can only be negotiated within the framework of a two-state solution," spokesman Steffen Seibert wrote on Twitter (in German).

For many Israelis, President Trump's formal recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem corrects a historic injustice.

Israeli politicians are now urging more countries to follow Washington's lead and move their embassies.

"We expect our friends to recognise our own capital as what it is," Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett told the BBC.

But Palestinians object strongly to the US announcement and say it inflames tensions.

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Palestinian Education Minister Sabri Saidam described it as "a manifestation of the lack of fairness in handling of the Palestine file and a total bias towards Israel".

There were large protests in Gaza following Mr Trump's speech - and there are calls for more across the Palestinian territories in the coming days.

The First Minister of Scotland and Scottish National Party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, says Trump's decision is "reckless".

The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Saeb Erekat, has told reporters that Mr Trump has destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Quote Message: I think tonight [Trump] is strengthening the forces of extremists in this region as no-one has done before

I think tonight [Trump] is strengthening the forces of extremists in this region as no-one has done before

Reacting to President Trump's announcement, the Czech Republic has issued a statement:

"The Czech Republic currently, before the peace between Israel and Palestine is signed, recognises Jerusalem to be in fact the capital of Israel in the borders of the demarcation line from 1967," the country's foreign ministry said on its website.

"The Czech Republic together with other EU member states ... considers Jerusalem to be future capital of both states, meaning the State of Israel and the future State of Palestine.

"The ministry can start considering moving the Czech embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem only based on results of negotiations with key partners in the region and in the world."

The US state department is warning that it fears the anger felt by Palestinians and their global supporters will spill into violence, reports the Jerusalem Post's bureau chief in Washington.

In a later comment he says:

Quote Message: This list now includes #Egypt, #Morocco and London, as protests begin in #Jordan and the West Bank.

This list now includes #Egypt, #Morocco and London, as protests begin in #Jordan and the West Bank.

The BBC's Barbara Plett-Usher, in Washington, says:

"Trump emphasised several times that he was delivering on a campaign promise, signaling that domestic politics was largely what motivated this controversial decision.

"The announcement would have made more sense as part of a peace plan, but the White House is still drafting one. So the president spent much of the speech pushing back against criticism that he was prejudging his own peace initiative.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

"He insisted that the US was still deeply committed to facilitating a deal acceptable to both sides, and was not taking a position on the final status of the holy city.

"That seemed to imply the Palestinian claim to occupied East Jerusalem would still be on the table in any negotiations. But his argument would have been more convincing to them if he’d spelled that out, and if he’d clearly stated that the end goal was two states.

"However he said the US would support such a solution if agreed to by both sides: not the unequivocal endorsement the Palestinians were looking for. Instead, he didn’t offer the Palestinians anything."

The UN Secretary General António Guterres has firmly rejected President Trump's move to accord Israel sovereignty over Jerusalem.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Quote Message: From day one as secretary general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardise the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Jerusalem is a final status issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties, on the basis of the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, taking into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinians and the Israeli sides.

From day one as secretary general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardise the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Jerusalem is a final status issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties, on the basis of the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, taking into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinians and the Israeli sides.

Rasan Remzi, a journalist based in Turkey, has shared an image on Twitter showing crowds of protesters gathering outside the US embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Jordan says that Trump's move on Wednesday is a violation of international law.

"The decision of the American president to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the transfer of the US embassy to this city constitutes a violation of decisions of international law and the United Nations charter," government spokesman Mohammed Momani said.

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The UK Prime Minister Theresa May has added her voice to the dissent over President Trump's move.

"We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement," a spokesman said.

"We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region."

Some Palestinians are calling for a national all-out strike on Thursday to reject Trump's move, an independent Palestinian news agency reports.

Palestinians have been urged to attend demonstrations instead.

The EU foreign policy chief has voiced her "serious concern" at the US president's move.

"The aspirations of both parties must be fulfilled and a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states," Federica Mogherini said.

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She added that the EU's concern was based on Trump's announcement "and the repercussions this may have on the prospect of peace".

Images are coming in from the Gaza Strip showing Palestinians gathering to protest against Trump's decision.

Local news websites quoted a senior member of Hamas, Ismail Radwan, telling the crowds that "Jerusalem and the Holy City can never be relinquished or be accepted as a unified capital of the occupation".

He reportedly added that Trump's step was a "blatant assault on our people and on our umma (the wider Muslim community)".

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

In a series of Twitter posts, the US embassy in Amman has announced that they are suspending vital services.

The US state department's bureau of diplomatic security is warning US citizens in Germany to be cautious and aware of their personal security.

The US embassy in Berlin has issued guidelines telling Americans to "remain aware of their surroundings" and "maintain a high level of vigilance".

Meanwhile, warnings have also been issued to US citizens in the UK.