U.S. opens Jerusalem Embassy amid Palestinian deaths in Gaza
President's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner present at opening, as Israeli forces kill 37 Palestinian demonstrators

Amid deadly clashes along the Israeli border which left at least 37 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded, US president Donald Trump’s top advisers and supporters have celebrated the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem as a campaign promised fulfilled.
In a video address aired at the opening, Mr Trump said the new embassy had been “a long time coming”.
Mr Trump said that the US had “failed to acknowledge the obvious” for many years, adding: “Today, we follow through on this recognition.”
The president’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with US treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, led the US delegation with a single message: Only Donald Trump had the courage to act on what America has wanted for a long time.
In a speech, Mr Kushner said: “While presidents before him have backed down from their pledge to move the American embassy once they were in office, this president delivered. Because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it.”
The relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv has infuriated the Palestinians, who seek east Jerusalem as a future capital. Protests roiled along the Gaza border, resulting in at least 37 Palestinians being killed and an estimated 500 more injured after Israeli forces opened fire.
Watch the ceremony in full:
Mr Trump added in his video address that the new embassy was opening “many, many years ahead of schedule”.
He added that he remains committed to “facilitating a lasting peace agreement”, and said he was “extending a hand of friendship to Israel, the Palestinians and to all of their neighbours”.
In a Fox News interview that made no reference to the climbing death toll, Mr Mnuchin repeatedly referenced Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said Mr Trump should be praised for “taking action” to keep Americans and people in the Middle East safe.

“The president is making difficult decisions because they are what he believes are the right long term decisions and not just kicking the can down the road,” Mr Mnuchin said.
US President’s adviser Jared Kushner thanks Donald Trump for the opportunity to be in Jerusalem, calling it “the eternal heart of the Jewish people” pic.twitter.com/xOrczWQPIg
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 14, 2018
The US treasury secretary also said “it’s not coincidental” that the embassy move coincided with Mr Trump’s announcement that he planned to abandon the Iran nuclear deal.
Also on hand were Republican senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
The embassy celebration was widely considered a snub by the Palestinians. Roughly 800 guests were expected to attend.
“It’s been a long time coming” – Donald Trump sends a video message to the ceremony, congratulating Israel for the new embassy in Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/2tAsV9Uz9H
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 14, 2018
US officials said last week that Mr Trump’s delegation was not planning on meeting Palestinian officials during their visit. The Trump administration in recent months has also slashed US aid to the Palestinians and programmes that support them.
Mr Trump’s policy is a sharp departure from past US administrations, which have tried to position America as a neutral party ready to broker a peace deal.
“Of all the things President Trump could have done, doing this (embassy move) is the strongest signal he could send to the Israeli people,” Mr Graham said.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.