Trump is personally calling top Middle East leaders to tell them about a major decision on Israel
Associated Press/Evan Vucci
- President Donald Trump was engaged in a phone call frenzy on Tuesday, reaching out to various Middle East leaders to inform them of his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
- Trump reportedly spoke with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt.
- Nearly every leader he called warned him against moving the embassy.
President Donald Trump has been making phone calls to leaders across the Middle East on Tuesday amid reports he will be making major announcements on the status of Jerusalem and America's embassy to Israel this week.
Trump is reportedly informing these leaders that he intends to move the US embassy to the holy city.
So far, Trump has spoken with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Saudi King Salman, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in order to inform them of his decision. Abbas told him the move would have "disastrous consequences."
All of the leaders, with the exception of Netanyahu, reportedly warned Trump about the potential consequences of his shift in policy. In a statement issued from King Abdullah's palace in Amman, the ruler made his opposition to Trump's intended action clear.
"King Abdullah stressed that the adoption of this resolution will have serious implications for security and stability in the Middle East, and will undermine the efforts of the American administration to resume the peace process and fuel the feelings of Muslims and Christians," the statement said.
Saudi Arabia's Salman reportedly told Trump that "such a dangerous step is likely to inflame the passions of Muslims around the world."
In a statement, al-Sisi took a softer tone, but remained opposed to the potential US move.
"The Egyptian president affirmed the Egyptian position on preserving the legal status of Jerusalem within the framework of international references and relevant UN resolutions," the statement said, according to Reuters.
In response to Trump's conversation with him, Abbas has reportedly reached out to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Pope Francis II, French President Emmanuel Macron, and King Mohammed VI of Morocco for support.
Macron himself spoke with Trump on Tuesday about the US president's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
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