United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel

On December 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally announced the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing nearly seven decades of American foreign policy, and ordered the planning of the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Following the announcement Trump signed a further embassy waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act, delaying the move, mandated by the Act, by at least six months.Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, welcomed the decision and praised the announcement. On February 23, 2018, the State Department announced the new embassy will open in May.

The announcement was criticized by the majority of international leaders, including the European Union's foreign policy chief. A motion condemning the move was proposed in the United Nations Security Council, but was vetoed by the United States after a fourteen to one vote. The United Nations General Assembly later passed a motion condemning Trump's announcement 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions.

The announcement was greeted with anger and demonstrations by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. By December 25, 2017, Salafi groups had fired almost 30 rockets towards Israel from the Gaza Strip, with almost half landing inside Gaza. Two caused minor damage to property near Ashkelon and Sderot, and Hamas rounded up the Salafists thought responsible for the attacks.

...
Wikipedia