President Donald Trump on Wednesday formally recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The president also directed processes commence to formally move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
World leaders including the EU and Arab countries had cautioned against the move saying it could further worsen the crisis in the Middle East.
The Arab League has announced an emergency meeting for Saturday on the matter while Turkey has threatened such move could affect its relationship with Israel.
Israel and Palestine both claim Jerusalem as capitals with many world leaders suggesting only after a resolution of the crisis between the two countries should be status of Jerusalem be resolved.
By his pronouncement on Wednesday, the U.S. becomes the first country in the world to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious, that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Mr. Trump said in a live broadcast.
Despite a U.S. law of over two decades mandating he recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, previous American leaders have pushed back at implementing the law for fear of its impact on the peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “is also the right thing to do,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump said the new U.S. embassy to be built in Jerusalem will be a “magnificent tribute to peace.”
“We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis, a great deal for the Palestinians,” he said; adding that the “U.S. remains committed to peace agreement acceptable to both sides.”
In a prompt response to Mr. Trump’s statement, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said the UN remained committed to the two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.
“There is no alternative to the two state solution. There is no Plan B,” Mr. Guterres said.
In his reaction, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu commended Mr. Trump calling it a historic landmark.
He, like Mr. Trump, said the decision would not affect all persons right to worship in the holy places in Jerusalem.
“We are profoundly grateful to the president (Trump) for his courageous and just decision,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
