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President Trump in Jerusalem: What to know

This controversial decision is expected to fuel international concern in Israel.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: US President Donald J. Trump delivering a speech during a visit to the Israel Museum on May 23, 2017 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move upending decades of U.S. policy and carrying unclear consequences for Mideast peace efforts.

During the announcement, Trump declared that previous presidents have made the promise to do this and failed, but "today I am delivering."

This controversial decision is expected to fuel international concern in Israel.

Palestinian leaders in the West Bank and Gaza called for three "days of rage," Al Jazeera reported Wednesday. Despite demonstrations that drew hundreds of Palestinians to the streets in Gaza City, there were few reports of violence.

Trump's announcement from the White House fulfills a campaign promise and upends decades of U.S. foreign policy over contested Jerusalem.

West Jerusalem is where Israel's government is based, but Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. For that reason, every U.S. president since Israel's founding in 1948 has located the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Trump is also instructing the State Department to begin the multi-year process of moving the embassy to Jerusalem.

ALSO | Trump's Jerusalem decision alarms world leaders

Citing safety concerns, the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem restricted government employees and their families from personal travel to Jerusalem's Old City and the West Bank. The State Department also advised American diplomatic posts in predominantly Muslim countries to be vigilant about possible protests.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas warned that changing the status of Jerusalem would have "dangerous consequences" for the "security and stability of the region and of the world."

At 5 p.m. on 11Alive, Blayne Alexander will have a full report on this decision.

Report by USA TODAY, Oren Dorell and Kim Hjelmgaard. For FULL report click HERE.

President Trump Jerusalem announcement:

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