page_title: United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel
section_title: State Department remarks
hierarchical_section_title: United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel / Announcement / State Department remarks
caption_attribution_description: “Slichot” prayer service during the Days of Repentance preceding Yom Kippur at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. GPO photo by Mark Neyman.
context_page_description: On December 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump announced the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the planning of the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, welcomed the decision and praised the announcement. On December 8, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson clarified that the President's statement "did not indicate any final status for Jerusalem" and "was very clear that the final status, including the borders, would be left to the two parties to negotiate and decide."
  Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was rejected by a majority of world leaders. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on December 7 where 14 out of 15 members condemned Trump's decision, but the motion was vetoed by the United States. Britain, France, Sweden, Italy and Japan were among the countries who criticized Trump's decision at the emergency meeting.
context_section_description: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later clarified that the President's statement "did not indicate any final status for Jerusalem" and "was very clear that the final status, including the borders, would be left to the two parties to negotiate and decide." State Department officials said on December 8 that there will not be any immediate practical changes in how the US deals with Jerusalem, including its policy of not listing a country on the passports of citizens born in Jerusalem.
  When asked what country the Western Wall is in, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said "We're not taking any position on the overall boundaries. We are recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."
caption: Israeli Jews praying at the Western Wall
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