(7 Dec 2017) U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, along with instructions to begin preparations to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, is loaded with meaning for both international and domestic audiences, says Brookings Institution Mideast analyst Khaled Elgindy.
"There are currently no countries that have their embassies in Jerusalem, so it's significant on many levels, " Elgindy told The Associated Press.
Elgindy said the president's two announcements were not going to have a positive impact on the peace process and they weren't designed to.
"This was a nod to a campaign promise, to a particular part of his conservative base. And it was opposed by almost all American allies in the region, in Europe, the Vatican, all over the world because it has such serious implications."
Trump says the embassy move is "a recognition of reality," but it decades of U.S. foreign policy.
And the president is defying warnings from global leaders that it would it more difficult to achieve a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says Trump has destroyed his credibility as a Mideast peace broker after recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Elgindy described the timing of the White House announcements as strange, as they come on the heels of Trump's Mideast peace team holding months of meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders for nearly a year ahead of an expected peace proposal.
"It suggests that they're not very confident perhaps in their own peace proposal and based on what has been leaked, there's really not a lot in there that will be attractive for four Palestinians, " he added.
By recognizing Israel's claim to Jerusalem, Trump is seen by the Palestinians as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict.
The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem - which Israel captured in 1967 - for their capital.
Abbas says the Palestinian leadership will meet in the coming days and consult with Arab leaders to formulate a response.
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