UK voices disagreement over Trump’s decision to move U.S. Embassy

Downing Street has restated Britain’s disagreement with Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, as protests took place ahead of Monday’s inauguration ceremony.

The formal opening of the new US embassy is to be attended by Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both serve as White House advisers.

Mr Trump’s decision broke with a decades-old international position that diplomatic representation should remain in Tel Aviv until the final status of Jerusalem is settled as part of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

At least two Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured as Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators heading for the border in a protest march.

The US has said the date of inauguration was chosen to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment, but it also falls at the time of annual Palestinian “nakba” commemorations to mark the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in 1948.

Mrs May’s official spokesman told a regular Westminster media briefing: “The Prime Minister said in December, when the announcement was first made, that we disagreed with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement.

“The British embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it.”