Politics

Israeli-Arab Lawmaker Calls Trump A ‘Pyromaniac’ Over US Recognition Of Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital

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Anders Hagstrom Justice Reporter
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A member of the Israeli parliament called President Donald Trump a “pyromaniac” Tuesday, after he announced that the U.S. may recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

PM Ayman Odeh is the leading Arab member of Israeli parliament and frequently represents Palestinian interests. He argues that moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could result in violence.

President Trump is expected to give speech Wednesday recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capitol. Odeh is not alone in claiming the move threatens to inflame Israeli-Palestinian tensions further. On Tuesday, the Trump administration warned US embassies across the world to prepare for potential violence if the change is made.

Congress passed a law in 1995 ordering the U.S. embassy to be located in Jerusalem, but every U.S. president since has decided to delay it, arguing that a relocation must come through negotiations, not a decree.

Trump was expected to sign a waiver Monday pushing off the relocation from Tel Aviv for another six months, but now says he will announce his decision “in the coming days.”

The president campaigned for the presidency promising to relocate the embassy, a move many have expected since the first day he took office in January.

Groups representing Palestine are already warning that if Trump moves to formally recognize Jerusalem, it could drastically impact the campaign of bringing peace to the Middle East.

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