US President Donald Trump will recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, senior administration officials have said.
Trump is also expected to approve moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but not for several years.
Israel welcomes the changes, but Palestinian and Arab leaders have warned they will jeopardise any Middle East peace process.
Saudi Arabia, an ally of the US, called the changes “a flagrant provocation to Muslims”.
Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital city, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
In recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the US becomes the first country to do so since the foundation of the state in 1948.
EU Vice-President and High Representative Federica Mogherini met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Brussels, Belgium.
During a press conference, Mogherini spoke about the Middle East Peace Process, saying: “The EU supports a two state solution. Any action that undermines these efforts must be avoided. A way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states.”
Trump administration officials said recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was seen as “a recognition of reality” by the US government.
However, specific boundaries of the city would remain subject to a final status agreement, the official said. The status of holy sites would not be affected.
Trump would also direct the state department to begin the process of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem – but this could take several years as it still has to be designed and built and security concerns would need to be addressed.
