Jordan warns Trump against recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, informed the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday that the move would trigger great anger in the Arab and Muslim worlds alike.

He added that it was of the utmost importance to "preserve the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and refrain from any decision that aims to change the status."

Palestinian leaders warned against the move, which Ahmed Abul Gheit, chief of the Arab League said would boost fanaticism and violence and sink any hope for peace.

Safadi called for emergency meetings of the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to discuss "how to deal with any American move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

Such a move Safadi added, would damage American efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, warning it could "push the region towards more tension."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' adviser Mahmoud Habash said on Saturday if President Donald Trump were to do so it would amount to a "complete destruction of the peace process."

Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital, a position nearly the entire world rejects saying its status should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians. The government in Ramallah claim the eastern part of the city as their future capital.

Trump has promised to make it a foreign policy priority to forge a peace deal between Israel and Palestine, and has tasked his son-in-law with the task.

Kushner and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman meanwhile have been in negotiations on establishing a Saudi-funded Palestinian state, Bloomberg said, although the secret talks have angered State Department head Rex Tillerson.

During the American presidential election campaign last year, Trump expressed strong support for Israel, and promised to order the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on his first day in office.

He has since delayed the move, and is expected on Monday to decide whether to sign a legal waiver delaying the embassy plans for a further six months, and to announce on Wednesday whether he supports Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital.

Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The last Palestinian intifada which claimed the lives of over 3000 Palestinians was sparked after a visit by Israeli leader Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa compound in 2000, the third holiest site for Muslims in Palestine and the world.