More Americans oppose Trump’s Jerusalem al-Quds move: Poll

Rasa - A new poll shows fewer than half of Americans support US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” and even a smaller number support moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

News ID: 435448

Date: 24 December 2017 - 19:52

RNA - The CNN poll released Friday found that Americans are deeply divided over Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the “capital” of Israel, with 44 percent approving the move and 45 percent disapproving.

The survey also shows that 49 percent say the US embassy in Israel should not be moved from Tel Aviv, while 36 percent support the move.

Two-thirds of Americans say the US should not take the side of either Israel or Palestine in the Middle East conflict. Most Americans, 56 percent, also doubt that a time will come when Israelis and Palestinians will reach peaceful settlement.

On December 6, Trump declared that Washington was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and was planning to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that condemned the US president’s decision. Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that supported the resolution.

Trump's decision was mostly aimed at pleasing his main supporters - Republican conservatives and evangelical Christian Zionists who comprise an important share of his voter base, analysts say.

Trump had vowed during his presidential campaign that he would relocate the US embassy in order to court pro-Israel voters.

Jerusalem al-Quds has been designated as “occupied” under international law since the 1967 Arab War, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy has triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as in other Muslim countries including Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and Morocco.

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