The mayor of Jerusalem announced on Tuesday that his city will be honoring President Donald Trump with the naming of a square near the new United States’ Israeli embassy.

Mayor Nir Barkat said the location’s name will be “United States Square in honor of President Donald Trump.”

“This is the way in which Jerusalem returns love to the president and residents of the United States who stand by the state of Israel,” the mayor said in a news release, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“President Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people, stand on the side of historical truth and do the right thing,” Barkat added.

The mayor tweeted a picture of the square, which he wrote is next to the embassy.

Trump announced his intention to move the United States’ embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December.

“That city is Israel’s capital,” Trump said at the time, according to CNBC. “It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

The president added moving the embassy “is nothing less than a recognition of reality.”

Israel’s center of government is in Jerusalem, including its legislature, the Knesset, and the official residence of the prime minister.

Trump noted in December that “while previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering.”

The United States plans to open its new embassy — which will be located where the U.S. consulate currently exists — on Monday, May 14. The date coincides with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel.

The United States, under the leadership of then-President Harry Truman, was the first nation to officially recognize the independence of Israel in 1948.

The U.S. was also the first nation to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by moving its embassy there. Guatemala announced in March it plans to do the same. All other nations’ embassies in Israel are located in Tel Aviv, Newsweek reported.

Barkat proudly posted photos of a new road sign he hung this week showing the way to the American embassy.

“Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people — and the world is beginning to recognize this face!” Barkat wrote.

According to the biblical account, Jerusalem first became the capital of the Jewish people around 1,000 B.C. under the leadership of King David.

Pastor John Hagee, the founder of Christians United for Israel, told Fox News, “(President Trump) will be remembered for thousands of years for his act of courage to treat Israel like we already treat other nations.”

What do you think? Scroll down to comment below. </s> Three years after the end of the Second World War and in the aftermath of the Holocaust carried out by Nazi Germany’s systematic persecution murdering 6 million European Jews, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel on May 14, 1948.

According to published reports, “Truman sent his telegram recognizing Israel 11 minutes after Ben-Gurion proclaimed the country’s existence on May 14, 1948.”

President Donald Trump delivered on his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This fulfills America’s great promise in implementing the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, a public law of the United States passed by the 104th Congress on Oct. 23, 1995.

Yet again, it was an American president’s moral leadership to stand firm against the opposition and media critics.

President Trump continues the legacy of America’s leadership in affirming the shared values and principles with trusted allies. This date, May 14, 2018, will be marked in history as a triumphant day when Americans and Israelis gathered to affirm Israel’s sovereignty and renewed the bonds of the strategic partnership between the two rule of law countries.

In a letter written a few weeks prior to Israel’s declaration of independence, Chaim Weizmann, the future president of Israel, conveyed this message to President Truman:

“The choice for our people, Mr. President, is between statehood and extermination. History and providence have placed this issue in your hands, and I am confident that you will yet decide it in the spirit of the moral law.”

President Trump’s leadership in fulfilling America’s commitment to a trusted ally honors the principled endeavors advanced for decades by America’s conservative movement, evangelical Christians and partners in Israel and the Jewish American community.

There are notable moments in history when U.S. presidents have stood for a moral cause and opposed external pressures to keep the status quo. At this hour, American leadership was at its best as a shining example to the world.

Never has the certitude of the rightness of this strategic endeavor been as strong as it is now, to implement the public law of the United States — the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. After the U.S. and Guatemala, Paraguay becomes the third nation to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The State of Israel considers “Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital.” Over 3,000 years ago, King David established Jerusalem as the capital of the first Jewish kingdom.

However, nations around the world oppose America’s principled leadership in affirming Israel’s sovereignty. On Dec. 21, 2017, the U.N. General Assembly held a vote on an Egyptian-drafted resolution demanding that the Trump administration rescind its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. A total of 128 of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly voted against America’s decision.

To make matters worse, America’s close allies on the 15-member U.N. Security Council, the influential and powerful body within the United Nations structure, voted for the resolution to embarrass the Trump administration.

Absent from the ranks to support Israel’s sovereignty and to recognize Jerusalem as the country’s capital were NATO members, a structure funded significantly by America’s taxpayers. NATO members missed an opportunity to side with the United States and Israel.

A great number of the Eastern Europe’s NATO members have failed to meet the alliance’s rule of law criteria including Croatia, Hungary and Poland. These countries are currently blocking efforts to return property confiscated during World War II to Jewish communities, a key article enshrined in the NATO’s charter as a prerequisite to joining the military alliance.

President Trump justifiably warned countries that are receiving U.S. taxpayer aid regarding their voting record when it comes to upholding the rule of law in the U.N. assembly.

Reuters reports: “According to figures from the U.S. government’s aid agency USAID, in 2016 the United States provided some $13 billion in economic and military assistance to countries in sub-Saharan Africa and $1.6 billion to states in East Asia and Oceania. It provided some $13 billion to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, $6.7 billion to countries in South and Central Asia, $1.5 billion to states in Europe and Eurasia and $2.2 billion to Western Hemisphere countries, according to USAID.”

A significant number of countries mired in corruption — and yet receiving U.S. taxpayer aid, generous loans and grants backed by the U.S. government through the International Monetary Fund and World Bank — continue to oppose rule of law reforms in their own jurisdictions while attacking America’s principled leadership.

In contrast, Israel is a beacon of democracy and the rule of law, and America’s key trusted ally in the Middle East.

Israel, known as the “startup nation,” is a leader in technology, medicine, agribusiness and desalination. Israeli innovations are empowering people in the developing world. Today, Israel’s engaged networks are actively sharing its resources with countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Israeli scientists and experts have shared their unique drip irrigation system and natural pesticides. These practical approaches provide clean water and boosts agricultural yields for developing nations.

According to Israeli research, “there are now some 400 Israel agritech startups focusing on innovations for the global agriculture sector.”

The innovation and technology from Israel fuel our digital highways, strengthen cybersecurity measures and empower citizens through smartphones.

Venture capitalist Jon Medved stated at the inaugural Jerusalem Leaders Summit in 2015 in Israel, “There are 350 multinationals in Israel. If anyone wants to boycott Israel, you have to unhook the Internet, because God forbid, you should use a Cisco product, or a Google product, you shouldn’t go on Facebook, you should never use Intel — that means throw away your computers, you cannot use Qualcomm, because then you have to get rid of your cell phones.”

Citizens, consumers and businesses around the world benefit from Israel’s creativity and appreciate the benefits gained from cybersecurity, medical advances and agricultural innovation.

However, leaders from around the world ought to know better and acknowledge the importance of Israel’s rule of law foundation and the fruits of a vibrant market economy. Celebrating a nation’s sovereignty and its significant economic successes will go a long way in a region hampered by authoritarian regimes, rampant corruption, radical Islamism, a state of constant unrest and open conflicts.

Indeed, the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday will undoubtedly be celebrated by engaged citizens and stakeholders from America, Israel and beyond who are dedicated to strengthening the partnership of nations deeply rooted in the rule of law and freedom.

Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy are co-founders of the U.S.-based International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.

What do you think? Scroll down to comment below. </s> Three years after the end of the Second World War and in the aftermath of the Holocaust carried out by Nazi Germany’s systematic persecution murdering 6 million European Jews, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel on May 14, 1948.

According to published reports, “Truman sent his telegram recognizing Israel 11 minutes after Ben-Gurion proclaimed the country’s existence on May 14, 1948.”

President Donald Trump delivered on his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This fulfills America’s great promise in implementing the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, a public law of the United States passed by the 104th Congress on Oct. 23, 1995.

Yet again, it was an American president’s moral leadership to stand firm against the opposition and media critics.

President Trump continues the legacy of America’s leadership in affirming the shared values and principles with trusted allies. This date, May 14, 2018, will be marked in history as a triumphant day when Americans and Israelis gathered to affirm Israel’s sovereignty and renewed the bonds of the strategic partnership between the two rule of law countries.

In a letter written a few weeks prior to Israel’s declaration of independence, Chaim Weizmann, the future president of Israel, conveyed this message to President Truman:

“The choice for our people, Mr. President, is between statehood and extermination. History and providence have placed this issue in your hands, and I am confident that you will yet decide it in the spirit of the moral law.”

President Trump’s leadership in fulfilling America’s commitment to a trusted ally honors the principled endeavors advanced for decades by America’s conservative movement, evangelical Christians and partners in Israel and the Jewish American community.

There are notable moments in history when U.S. presidents have stood for a moral cause and opposed external pressures to keep the status quo. At this hour, American leadership was at its best as a shining example to the world.

Never has the certitude of the rightness of this strategic endeavor been as strong as it is now, to implement the public law of the United States — the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. After the U.S. and Guatemala, Paraguay becomes the third nation to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The State of Israel considers “Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital.” Over 3,000 years ago, King David established Jerusalem as the capital of the first Jewish kingdom.

However, nations around the world oppose America’s principled leadership in affirming Israel’s sovereignty. On Dec. 21, 2017, the U.N. General Assembly held a vote on an Egyptian-drafted resolution demanding that the Trump administration rescind its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. A total of 128 of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly voted against America’s decision.

To make matters worse, America’s close allies on the 15-member U.N. Security Council, the influential and powerful body within the United Nations structure, voted for the resolution to embarrass the Trump administration.

Absent from the ranks to support Israel’s sovereignty and to recognize Jerusalem as the country’s capital were NATO members, a structure funded significantly by America’s taxpayers. NATO members missed an opportunity to side with the United States and Israel.

A great number of the Eastern Europe’s NATO members have failed to meet the alliance’s rule of law criteria including Croatia, Hungary and Poland. These countries are currently blocking efforts to return property confiscated during World War II to Jewish communities, a key article enshrined in the NATO’s charter as a prerequisite to joining the military alliance.

President Trump justifiably warned countries that are receiving U.S. taxpayer aid regarding their voting record when it comes to upholding the rule of law in the U.N. assembly.

Reuters reports: “According to figures from the U.S. government’s aid agency USAID, in 2016 the United States provided some $13 billion in economic and military assistance to countries in sub-Saharan Africa and $1.6 billion to states in East Asia and Oceania. It provided some $13 billion to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, $6.7 billion to countries in South and Central Asia, $1.5 billion to states in Europe and Eurasia and $2.2 billion to Western Hemisphere countries, according to USAID.”

A significant number of countries mired in corruption — and yet receiving U.S. taxpayer aid, generous loans and grants backed by the U.S. government through the International Monetary Fund and World Bank — continue to oppose rule of law reforms in their own jurisdictions while attacking America’s principled leadership.

In contrast, Israel is a beacon of democracy and the rule of law, and America’s key trusted ally in the Middle East.

Israel, known as the “startup nation,” is a leader in technology, medicine, agribusiness and desalination. Israeli innovations are empowering people in the developing world. Today, Israel’s engaged networks are actively sharing its resources with countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Israeli scientists and experts have shared their unique drip irrigation system and natural pesticides. These practical approaches provide clean water and boosts agricultural yields for developing nations.

According to Israeli research, “there are now some 400 Israel agritech startups focusing on innovations for the global agriculture sector.”

The innovation and technology from Israel fuel our digital highways, strengthen cybersecurity measures and empower citizens through smartphones.

Venture capitalist Jon Medved stated at the inaugural Jerusalem Leaders Summit in 2015 in Israel, “There are 350 multinationals in Israel. If anyone wants to boycott Israel, you have to unhook the Internet, because God forbid, you should use a Cisco product, or a Google product, you shouldn’t go on Facebook, you should never use Intel — that means throw away your computers, you cannot use Qualcomm, because then you have to get rid of your cell phones.”

Citizens, consumers and businesses around the world benefit from Israel’s creativity and appreciate the benefits gained from cybersecurity, medical advances and agricultural innovation.

However, leaders from around the world ought to know better and acknowledge the importance of Israel’s rule of law foundation and the fruits of a vibrant market economy. Celebrating a nation’s sovereignty and its significant economic successes will go a long way in a region hampered by authoritarian regimes, rampant corruption, radical Islamism, a state of constant unrest and open conflicts.

Indeed, the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday will undoubtedly be celebrated by engaged citizens and stakeholders from America, Israel and beyond who are dedicated to strengthening the partnership of nations deeply rooted in the rule of law and freedom.

Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy are co-founders of the U.S.-based International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.

Facebook has greatly reduced the distribution of our stories in our reader’s newsfeed and are instead promoting mainstream media sources. When you share to your friends, however, you greatly help distribute our content. Please take a moment and consider sharing this article to your friends and family. Thank you. </s> A square near the new American embassy in Jerusalem's Arnona neighborhood is to be named in honor of President Donald Trump, a Hebrew-language Facebook post by the city's mayor, Nir Barkat, announced on Tuesday.

Under the title "Jerusalem returns the love to Trump," Barkat announced: "We have decided that the square adjacent to the embassy in the capital will be called "United States Square – in honor of President Donald Trump."

The official transfer of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the dedication of the embassy, which had up to now served as an American consular office, will occur on May 14.

>> One week to opening of U.S. embassy in Jerusalem: Everything you need to know <<

Trump announced the controversial plan to transfer the embassy in December, saying: "It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," and calling it "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It's something that has to be done." Trump added at the time: "We are not taking a position of any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders."

The Palestinians are seeking to establish the capital of an independent Palestinian state in the eastern part of the city.

>> Jerusalem for dummies part 1: Why the world doesn't recognize it as Israel's capital ■ Jerusalem for dummies, part 2: What the Palestinians want </s> JERUSALEM: The US today opened its embassy in Jerusalem under a controversial move by President Donald Trump, amid a bloodbath right on the border with Gaza where Israeli soldiers shot dead at least 52 Palestinians in clashes, in the deadliest escalation of violence since 2014.

Trump announced the decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December, when he formally recognised the holy city as the capital of Israel, breaking away from decades of US neutrality on the sensitive issue.

"Today, we officially opened the United States embassy in Jerusalem. Congratulations. It's been a long time coming," President Trump said in a pre-recorded video at the US embassy opening here.

"Israel is a sovereign nation, with the right like any other sovereign nation, to designate its capital," he said.

The American leader said the US remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians.

He said that his country supports status quo at the Temple Mount, a flashpoint of Israel-Palestinian conflict that houses the Western Wall (holiest site for the Jews) and the al-Aqsa mosque - known as Haram al-Sharif.

"This city and entire nation is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people," Trump emphasised.

Later, the US President tweeted, "Big day for Israel. Congratulations!"

The inauguration ceremony started with the singing of the American anthem and the presentation of colours by US Marines.

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman noted that Washington, which became the first country to recognise the State of Israel, has now taken "a step awaited, voted upon, and litigated and prayed for for all these years".

"Again the United States leads the way," in relocating the embassy, he said.

The move is the result of the "vision, the courage, and the moral clarity" of President Trump, to whom we own an "enormous and eternal debt of gratitude," the US envoy stressed.

"We have shown the world once again that the US can be trusted," said Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the President and Trump's son-in-law.

He also hailed Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal, saying the President announced his intention to exit the "dangerous, flawed and one-sided Iran deal."

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Trump for keeping his promise. "Thank you, President Trump, for having the courage to keep your promise," he said.

"Thank you, President Trump for making the alliance between Israel and the United States stronger than ever," he said.

"You can only build peace on truth. And the truth is that Jerusalem has been, and always will be, the capital of the Jewish people, the capital of the Jewish state," he asserted.

A high-level American delegation that includes Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Kushner, senior adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt attended the embassy opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, Palestinians, who protested massively along the Gaza border clashed with Israeli forces, leading to the death of at least 52 of them.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 52 people have been killed and more than 2,400 people suffered injuries.

Of the 52 killed today, at least six were below the age of 18, including one female. And, of more than 2,400 wounded, at least 200 were below the age of 18 and 11 were journalists.

The Palestinian protestors burned tyres and threw stones at the soldiers, trying to approach the fence.

The Palestinian Authority headed by President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and headquartered in the West Bank town of Ramallah accused Israel of committing a "terrible massacre" as the death toll soared.

Seeking international intervention, Palestinian government spokesman Yusuf al-Mahmoud said that it was an urgent requirement given "the terrible massacre in Gaza committed by the forces of the Israeli occupation against our heroic people".

The death toll made it the deadliest day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 2014 Gaza war.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement accusing Hamas, which controls Gaza, of "leading a terrorist operation" and inciting protesters who had amassed by the border fence with Israel to conduct what Israel described as terror attacks.

The IDF estimated that around 35,000 people -- who it describes as "violent rioters" -- had assembled in 12 different locations along the border fence between Gaza and Israel and thousands more were gathered in a tent city about a kilometer from the border.

The military said the protesters threw Molotov cocktails, burned tyres, and stones at Israeli soldiers positioned along the fence.

The State Department noted that the opening of the new embassy will take place on the 70th anniversary of American recognition of the State of Israel, the day of its founding and a day that Palestinians refer to as "the Catastrophe," as hundreds of thousands fled their homes.

The Embassy move is contentious for Palestinians, who hope to claim part of the city as their future capital, and for many in the Arab world, as it is home to some of the holiest sites in Islam. The city is also home to deeply holy sites for Jews and Christians.

The issue has been so thorny that international negotiators had left the question of Jerusalem to the final stages of any peace deal. </s> JERUSALEM - Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes inaugurated his country’s Israel embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, making it the third nation to take the deeply controversial step after the United States and Guatemala.

Cartes and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the inauguration of the new embassy in a high-tech industrial park in southwest Jerusalem. The Paraguayan leader called it a “historic event”. “This act has profound significance in the sense that it expresses Paraguay’s sincere friendship and full solidarity with Israel,” he said.

Netanyahu said cooperation between the two countries would become “greater”, naming areas such as agriculture, security and technology. “You have not only the support of our government but the profound gratitude of the people of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “We remember our friends.”

Paraguay already supplies some 40 percent of beef consumed in Israel, while Cartes has Israeli bodyguards.

The South American nation of some seven million people follows in the footsteps of the United States, which broke with decades of international consensus when President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem Israel’s capital in December.

Washington followed up on the declaration by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, the day that also marked the 70th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel. The Palestinian leadership has frozen ties with the White House over the moves.

The US embassy opening was accompanied by mass protests and clashes along the Gaza border that saw 62 Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire.

No Israelis were killed, and there have been international calls for an independent investigation into the deaths.

Israel has rejected such calls, saying its actions are necessary to protect its border and stop Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, from using the protests as cover to carry out violence.

Israel has sought to persuade other countries to follow the White House and move their embassies to Jerusalem from the Tel Aviv area, but so far only Paraguay and Guatemala have done so.

Guatemala opened its new embassy in the same Jerusalem office park as Paraguay’s on May 16.

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, harshly criticised Paraguay’s decision, saying “moving an embassy to Jerusalem is a widely rejected step”.

“We have witnessed today how the Paraguayan president is an irresponsible political leader by defying international law and the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” he said in a statement.

Jerusalem’s status is perhaps the thorniest issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community. </s> JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Paraguay opened its Israel embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, the second country to follow the United States in making the politically sensitive move from Tel Aviv.

Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the inauguration ceremony. The United States relocated its embassy to Jerusalem a week ago, drawing Palestinian anger, and was followed by Guatemala on Wednesday. </s> Jerusalem will always be the "eternal, undivided" capital of Israel, the country's Prime Minister has said as the new American Embassy was opened in the contested city. The controversial decision by Donald Trump has enraged Palestinians, who see it as clear US backing for Israeli rule over the whole city, whose eastern part Palestinians lay claim to and say has been annexed by Israel. Jerusalem is important in both Judaism and Islam. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third most holy site in Islam and is situated in the Old City of Jerusalem, while according to the Hebrew Bible, the Temple Mount or the first temple, was built in the city. Protests over the opening of the embassy have seen 52 Palestinians killed and 2,400 wounded, as Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators at the border.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the embassy, Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "glorious" day and thanked President Trump for showing the "courage" to keep a key campaign promise. He continued that relations with the US have never been stronger and added that peace in the Middle East must be founded on what he said was the "truth" recognised by the US.

President Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner - who runs the administration's Middle East team - along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, attended the embassy's opening. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Kushner said that only President Trump had the courage to act on what America has wanted for a long time. "While presidents before him have backed down from their pledge to move the American Embassy once they were in office, this president delivered," Mr Kushner said. He continued: "When President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it."

According to the Israeli military, 40,000 protesters are taking part in demonstrations at 12 points along the Gaza border. The US said it chose the inauguration date to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment. But it also marks the anniversary of what Palestinians call their “nakba”, or catastrophe, a reference to the uprooting of hundreds of thousands who fled or were expelled from what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s independence. The world's largest body of Muslim-majority nations says it "strongly rejects and condemns" the White House's "deplorable action" in moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said it considers the US' move an "illegal decision" and "an attack on the historical, legal, natural and national rights of the Palestinian people". It continued that the move also represents "an affront to international peace and security". The OIC said the US administration has "expressed utter disdain and disrespect to Palestinian legitimate rights and international law" and shown disregard toward the sentiments of Muslims, who value Jerusalem as home to one of Islam's holiest sites, the al-Aqsa mosque complex. The UK has also condemned the embassy move, with the Government saying they "disagreed with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement". Commenting on the deaths of Palestinian protesters, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said she was "concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza" and "urged calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts. "The UK remains firmly committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital." </s> Israelis basked in national pride and prepared for a Jerusalem march expected to draw tens of thousands Sunday, a day ahead of the controversial US embassy move to the disputed city.

Palestinians meanwhile readied for their own protests on Monday over the embassy's inauguration, including another mass demonstration in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel.

Sunday's Jerusalem march begins a week of high tension between Israelis and Palestinians, highlighted by the embassy inauguration to be attended by a Washington delegation including US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner.

Both arrived in Israel on Sunday.

The embassy move will take place on the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding, while the following day Palestinians will mark the Nakba, or "catastrophe," commemorating the more than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation.

Palestinian protests are also planned for Tuesday.

For Israelis, Sunday is Jerusalem Day, an annual celebration of the "reunification" of the city following the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967. It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

This year's celebration takes on added significance due to the embassy move the following day.

The annual march to the Western Wall includes many hardline religious nationalists who oppose a Palestinian state, often resulting in clashes as they pass through mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- bolstered in recent days by Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal -- opened a special cabinet meeting at Jerusalem's Bible Lands Museum by again lauding the embassy move.

"Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible approximately 650 times," Netanyahu said.

"The reason is simple: For over 3,000 years it has been the capital of our people, and only of our people."

Around 1,000 police officers will be positioned around the US embassy and surrounding neighbourhoods for Monday's inauguration, said spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

Israel's army said it would almost double the number of troops surrounding the Gaza Strip and in the occupied West Bank.

On Sunday, scuffles broke out between Israelis visiting the Haram al-Sharif holy compound in east Jerusalem's Old City, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and Muslim security officers.

Jews are allowed to visit the site but not pray there to avoid provoking tensions and police said a number of visitors were removed for not following the rules.

"It is not a provocation. It's our property," said Nili Naoun, 42, an Israeli who arrived at the holy site with her family at 7:00 am.

A number of Palestinian shop owners in the Old City said they planned to close when the march passed through in case anyone tried to vandalise their shops, as has occurred in the past.

There were already tensions in the weeks before the embassy move.

Fifty-four Palestinians have been killed in protests and clashes since March 30 along the Gaza Strip's border with Israel.

No Israelis have been wounded and the military has faced criticism over the use of live fire.

Israel says it only opens fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, attacks and damage to the border fence, while accusing Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip, of seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence.

On Sunday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya headed to Cairo for talks amid speculation over whether Egypt is attempting to calm the situation.

The embassy move has provoked Palestinian anger and led them to freeze ties with the White House.

But US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who has been a supporter of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, said he believed the Palestinians' position "will change over time."

He told Fox News the United States "is there to help the Palestinians" and "there is no basis" to think the embassy move will work against peace.

Jerusalem's status is perhaps the thorniest issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

In the decades since 1967, international consensus has been that the city's status must be negotiated between the two sides, but Trump broke with that to global outrage.

Like Friedman, he has argued that it helps make peace possible by taking Jerusalem "off the table", but many have pointed out that he has not announced any concessions in return from Israel.
On the 70th anniversary of the formation of Israel, the United States becomes the first country with an embassy in Jerusalem after a dedication ceremony featuring Israeli leaders and White House advisers.