Jerusalem Trump: World reacts ahead of speech

US President Donald Trump's expected decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital is meeting with a wave of disapproval - even before he formally makes the announcement.

Leaders from within the Muslim world and from the wider international community were swift to criticise the move, and warned of violence and bloodshed as a result.

Mr Trump is also expected to approve moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making America the first country in the world to officially recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The status of Jerusalem lies at the heart of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

White House officials have said Mr Trump's decision is a "recognition of current and historic reality" but is not a political statement, and will not change the physical and political borders of Jerusalem.

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Israel called ‘a threat to world peace’

Palestinians

President Mahmoud Abbas says moving the US embassy to Jerusalem would be "unacceptable" to Palestinians. "If this happens, it will complicate things," says his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh. "It will put an obstacle to the peace process. Maybe it will be the end of the peace process."

Mr Abbas's diplomatic adviser, Majdi Khaldi, said Mr Trump's announcement might end Washington's role as a mediator. "This would mean they decided, on their own, to distance themselves from efforts to make peace," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the decision "confirms what Hamas have always said, that the United States has not and will not be an honest broker in any case concerning our people".

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said: "Our Palestinian people everywhere will not allow this conspiracy to pass, and their options are open in defending their land and their sacred places."