Jerusalem, the sacred city - Provocative move by Trump

There are many capital cities like Tel-Aviv in the world but there is only one Jerusalem — a place of mystery and history that is revered not only by those who live there but by many millions around the world who have never seen it.

There are many capital cities like Tel-Aviv in the world but there is only one Jerusalem — a place of mystery and history that is revered not only by those who live there but by many millions around the world who have never seen it.

It is sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity and, as such, belongs to all three faiths. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is considered by many to be the holiest site in Christendom.

The Wailing Wall is the most sacred place on earth for Jews while Jerusalem also hosts the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, after the mosques of al-Haram in Mecca and al-Nabawi in Medina. The city’s Temple Mount is sacred to all three faiths which trace their shared origins back to the biblical figure of Abraham.

It is in that context that the decision by Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv should be considered.

It is a highly provocative step that ends any chance of Middle East peace for at least a generation as the status of Jerusalem is a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the city as their capital.

It could also trigger recognition by other countries of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestine state and put Israeli Jews in even greater danger than they are already. Worst of all, it ends any prospect of the US continuing to be an honest broker in search of a settlement to the Middle East conflict.