President Trump Recognizes Jerusalem As Israel's Official Capital City

Despite decades of U.S. policy, President Trump today (Dec. 6) has officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital city. The decision, some believe, may lead to increase of violence in the Middle East over the heavily disputed land.

"I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Trump said from the White House. "It's the right thing to do."

​The declaration calls into question seven decades of deliberate diplomatic ambiguity about the final status of a holy city vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.

Trump also kicked off the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making good on a campaign promise dear to evangelical Christian and right wing Jewish voters -- as well as donors.

He said his decision marked the start of a "new approach" to solving the thorny conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump was pushed to act on the embassy as a result of the a 1995 law, which stated that the city "should be recognized as the capital of the state of Israel" and the US embassy be moved there.
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A waiver has been invoked by successive US presidents, postponing the move on grounds of "national security" once every six months, meaning the law has never taken effect.