US President Donald Trump called his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmud Abbas, to communicate his intention to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, said Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina. Trump also plans to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and King Abdullah II of Jordan, according to the White House. "The US Embassy in Jerusalem is unacceptable", says Abás. Rudeina said that President Abbas warned of the dangers of moving the diplomatic legation on the peace process, security and stability in the region and the world. "The president reaffirms our firm position that there is no Palestinian state without East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative", the spokesman said.

The head of the Arab League also sent his warning to Trump, advised not to take any action that would change the current legal and political status of Jerusalem. Arab leader Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said a "dangerous step" in that regard would have "repercussions" throughout the Middle East. For their part, Israeli officials played down the threats of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said on Tuesday that the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is a "red line" for Muslims, which would lead to Ankara breaking its diplomatic relations with Israel.

From Israel they point out that Jerusalem "has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and the capital of Israel for 70, whether Erdogan recognizes it or not". Almost the entire international community rejects this position pointing out that the status of the city should be decided in peace talks with the Palestinians, who claim the eastern part as their capital.

On the other hand, Majdi Khaldi, diplomatic advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that Palestinian authorities would "slow down their contacts" with the United States in the event that Trump makes the statement. The adviser also said that Washington would lose credibility as a mediator for the Middle East if the leader goes ahead with the initiative.

East Jerusalem, taken by Israel in 1967, houses important sacred sites for Muslims, Christians and Jews. It is expected that this week Trump would deliver a speech on Wednesday, December 6, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, although this point has not been confirmed by Washington.