Saudi Arabia Warns America About Consequences of Moving US Embassy in Israel

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has warned US President Donald Trump about the consequences of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. According to a report from the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday, December 5, King Salman told Trump in a phone call that the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem would inflame the feelings of Muslims around the world. The report states that King Salman said: Given the significance of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, such a dangerous step would ignite the emotions of Muslims globally. He added that any announcement by the US regarding the status of Jerusalem, prior to reaching a permanent agreement, would harm peace negotiations and increase tensions in the region. According to Reuters, Trump informed several Arab leaders on Tuesday that the US has decided to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Senior US officials say Trump is likely to announce the embassy move to Jerusalem on Wednesday, and this order is expected to be implemented quickly. Reuters states that the relocation of the US embassy will be seen as recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, marking a significant and unprecedented shift in US strategy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Middle Eastern affairs. Additionally, besides the King of Saudi Arabia, Trump has spoken by phone with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, King Abdullah of Jordan, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, all of whom have expressed their concerns about the embassy move. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened on Tuesday that if Trump recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Turkey may sever ties with Israel. Erdogan described Jerusalem as a 'red line' for Muslims and stated that recognizing it as Israel's capital would be a 'violation of international law' and a 'great blow to the conscience of humanity.' During his election campaign, Trump promised to sign the order to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem on his first day in office. However, six months ago, he extended the delay in implementing the 1995 Congressional mandate regarding the embassy move to Jerusalem. According to the 1995 Congressional mandate, the US is required to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but all previous Democratic and Republican presidents, including Trump, have postponed the implementation of this mandate every six months by signing an order. The previous six-month deadline expired on Monday, but the White House confirmed that Trump did not extend this directive. A White House spokesperson stated, 'The President's position is clear; the embassy move is just a matter of time.'