Vice-President Mike Pence, visiting Jerusalem, announced the timing of the move in a speech to Israel’s parliament, earning applause from Israeli legislators but also stirring a brief protest by Israeli Arab legislators, who held signs reading “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine”.
In Brussels, the EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting that the EU supported his ambition to have East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state.
US President Donald Trump suddenly reversed decades of US policy in December when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, generating fury from Palestinians and the Arab world and concern among Washington’s Western allies.
Trump’s move delighted Israel, Washington’s closest Middle East ally, but stirred disquiet from world powers including Russia and China who worry it would stoke regional tensions and drive a wedge between Israel and the Palestinians.
Many countries believe Jerusalem should ultimately be shared between Israel and a future Palestinian state and so are unwilling to make decisions about recognition of its status before a comprehensive peace settlement is agreed.
“In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the US Embassy in Jerusalem – and that US Embassy will open before the end of next year,” Pence, part-way through a Middle East tour, said.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Twitter that Pence’s speech showed the US administration was part of the problem rather than the solution.
“The messianic discourse of Pence is a gift to extremists,” he wrote. “His message to the rest of the world is clear: Violate international law and resolutions and the US will reward you.”